The investigation into the fatal shooting of Jamar Clark by Minneapolis police has been "very extensive and thorough," the lead agencies said Thursday as they made a final appeal for anyone to come forward with whatever information might help decide whether one or more officers should be charged.
Agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension have "conducted interviews, collected evidence and followed leads to gather the facts" in connection with the black man's shooting in November during a scuffle with white officers on a north Minneapolis street, read a joint statement from the BCA and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, whose office received the case last month for possible prosecution.
The BCA "has done a very extensive and thorough investigation into the death," the statement noted. "Now, the lead agencies are making one last request for people to come forward with evidence."
The statement added that "everyone is working to complete this case as soon as possible."
Mel Reeves, a member of the Twin Cities Coalition 4 Justice 4 Jamar, said, "It appears that the statement … is implying that witnesses have not come forward. We know for sure that witnesses have come forward and there is more than enough evidence to indict officers [Mark] Ringgenberg and [Dustin] Schwarze of wrongdoing — either manslaughter or second-degree murder — based on witness testimony that we have heard."
Freeman sent the case back to the BCA late last month for further investigation. He is hoping to have a decision on charges by the end of March.
Freeman's spokesman, Chuck Laszewski, said Thursday afternoon there is nothing more to the agencies making a final request for evidence other than it being "a last call to anyone about anything."
Clark, 24, was shot in the head after officers responded to a disturbance call outside an apartment building in the 1600 block of Plymouth Avenue N.
