NBA Star DeMarcus Cousins Offers to Pay for Funeral of Unarmed Black Male Fatally Shot By Police

DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousin Timberwolves (Kimani Okearah)

NBA player DeMarcus Cousins offered to pay for the funeral of 22-year-old Stephon Clark, who was killed by Sacramento police.

The former Sacramento Kings star reportedly reached out to Clark’s family to offer and pay for funeral expenses, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Clark was gunned down by officers on Sunday in his grandmother’s backyard. The police mistook his cellphone for a weapon and reportedly released at least 20 shots at the unarmed victim. Clark’s family initially set up a GoFundMe page on Monday to raise money for the victim’s funeral costs according to Sacramento Bee. The 22-year-old’s family is demanding justice, along with many city protesters.

Cousins’ kind gesture to the family of Stephon Clark came after protesters delayed a “Kings” game against the visiting Atlanta Hawks for about 20 minutes, ESPN reports.

The NBA star is known for his generous acts and funded the funeral of Jaulon “JJ” Clavo, a local football player who perished in a shooting in 2015. He also hosted free basketball camps and bought a new scoreboard for Sacramento High School’s basketball gym.

The now “Pelicans” basketball player was given the NBA’s first “NBA Cares Community Assist Award” for his charitable achievements in Sacramento; New Orleans; Mobile, Alabama and South Africa last October. He spent seven seasons with the Sacramento Kings and considers the city his “home.”

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