Police killings of black men in the U.S. and what happened to the officers

The funeral unfolded Thursday for Stephon Clark, the latest black man killed at the hands of police whose death has sparked protests and drawn national attention. Police fatally shot Clark in his grandparents' backyard on March 18 after confusing his cellphone for a gun. Days of demonstrations have followed, shutting down a city meeting and drawing support from its NBA team.

Meanwhile, in Louisiana, the state attorney general announced no charges will result from the police killing of Alton Sterling, who was fatally shot while selling CDs outside a Baton Rouge store in 2016.

Here's a look at what happened after the deaths of other black men after police-interactions in high-profile cases nationwide, from Tamir Rice to today.

Terence Crutcher (Sept. 16, 2016, in Tulsa) 

Betty Shelby, a white Tulsa police offer, called the unarmed Crutcher a "bad dude" before fatally shooting him with his hands up as he stood near his vehicle in a street.

The conclusion: A jury acquitted her of first-degree manslaughter in 2017, and Shelby later resigned from the department.

Philando Castile (July 6, 2016, in Falcon Heights, Minn.)

Officer Jeronimo Yanez claimed he pulled over Philando Castile for a broken tail light, though radio calls later showed the officer thought Castile resembled a robbery suspect. Shortly after Castile informed Yanez he had a gun in the car (for which Castile had a permit), Yanez shot Castile twice in the heart. Other bullets came within inches of Castile's girlfriend, who livestreamed the killing's aftermath on Facebook. 

The conclusion: Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter in 2017.

Alton Sterling (July 5, 2016, in Baton Rouge) 

Sterling was selling CDs outside a convenience store when two officers, Howie Lake and Blane Salamoni, approached amid a report of a man with a gun. Officers wrestled the 300-pound Sterling to the ground because he refused an order, they said. Salamoni shot Sterling three times, claiming Sterling reached for a gun in his pocket. As Sterling began to sit up, Salamoni fired three more shots into his back. They later found Sterling, a convicted felon, was illegally carrying a gun. 

The conclusion: No charges will come against either officer, a state attorney general announced in March 2018. 

Walter Scott (April 4, 2015, in North Charleston, S.C.) 

A video captured police officer Michael Slager shooting Walter Scott in the back five times as he fled. Scott was unarmed. A broken tail light initiated the encounter in which Slager, who is white, wrestled with Scott on the ground after an initial attempt to flee. Slager placed a taser next to Scott's body and later claimed Scott had tried to tase him. 

The conclusion: A federal judge sentenced Slager to 20 years in prison.

Eric Harris (April 2, 2015, in Tulsa) 

Robert Bates, a 74-year-old volunteer sheriff's deputy, claimed he confused his .38-caliber handgun for a stun gun and accidentally shot an unarmed Eric Harris after Harris fled a sting involving a gun sale. A single shot is heard on video footage before a voice says, "I'm sorry. I shot him." As Harris writhes in pain and says he cannot breathe, a deputy responds, "(Expletive) your breath."  

The conclusion: Bates received a four-year prison sentence in 2016, according to the Tulsa World, but was released in October 2017.

Tony Robinson (March 6, 2015, in Madison, Wis.) 

Officer Matt Kenny responded to a complaint of a person jumping in front of cars and attacking people. He pursued Robinson to an apartment, heard commotion inside and entered. There, police said, Kenny shot Robinson in the head, torso and arm seven times after the unarmed 19-year-old attacked him. The killing of Robinson, who was biracial, by Kenny, who was white, inspired a wave of non-violent protests.

The conclusion: A district attorney declared two months later that Kenny would face no charges.

Rumain Brisbon (Dec. 2, 2014, in Phoenix)

Officer Mark Rine was following up on a tip about a drug deal when Brisbon fled, eventually resulting in a struggle between the two. After Brisbon placed his hand in his pocket, around what Rine thought to be a gun, the officer killed him with two shots. It turned out Brisbon was reaching for a pill bottle.

The conclusion: Months later, a county attorney announced there would be no criminal charges.

Tamir Rice (Nov. 22, 2014, in Cleveland) 

Timothy Loehmann, an officer in training, said he had "no choice" but to shoot and kill 12-year-old Tamir Rice as the boy held a BB gun outside a recreational center. After a call claimed a man had pointed a gun at people in the area, Loehmann jumped out of his car and shot Rice within moments. No witnesses heard officers issue any warnings. 

The conclusion: A Cleveland grand jury declined to bring charges in December 2015. The city agreed to pay $6 million to Rice's family but admitted no wrongdoing. The city later fired Loehmann.

Laquan McDonald (Oct. 20, 2014, in Chicago) 

A chilling dashcam video showed officer Jason Van Dyke firing 16 shots at Laquan McDonald, a teenager who appears to be running away from police in the footage. Van Dyke, who is white, kept firing after the teen fell to the pavement and seemed to begin shooting as soon as he exited his vehicle. McDonald, 17, had a small knife.

The conclusion: Van Dyke was charged with murder a year later once the footage was released, with his trial slated for this summer. Other officers faced conspiracy and obstruction charges in the aftermath.

Michael Brown Jr. (Aug. 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo.) 

Officer Darren Wilson shot Brown, who was unarmed, six times. Police said the shots came after an struggle inside Wilson's police car as Brown reached for his weapon. His death prompted waves of protests in Ferguson and beyond, propelling Black Lives Matter into a national movement. 

The conclusion: The Justice Department did not bring criminal charges against Wilson in 2015, claiming he acted in self defense in an 86-page memo. Wilson later claimed he was unemployable.

Eric Garner (July 17, 2014, in New York City) 

"I can't breathe." So said Eric Garner multiple times as officers wrestled him to the ground and one — Daniel Pantaleo — placed him in a chokehold, after which he died. Police approached Garner, who was unarmed, for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes. His death sparked months of protest. 

The conclusion: A medical examiner ruled Garner's death a homicide, but a jury declined to indict Pantaleo. Garner's family received $5.9 million from the City of New York in a settlement.