The 24-year-old’s video went viral last June. It showed Clarke weeping and punching herself in the chest until her dog intervenes, jumps up to block the blows, and comforts him. Clarke said he posted the video to raise awareness about Asperger’s and autism.
Clarke also posted videos documenting his gender transition and talking about his struggles with the mental heath care system. In December he posted a video titled “Fantastic news!”, telling his followers that his insurance company would pay the cost of gender reassignment surgery. But a video posted a month ago expressed frustration with Arizona’s mental health care system and his difficulties finding a therapist who could deal with both his gender identity and Asperger’s issues.
“I’ve never met a bunch of mental health professionals who are completely fucking morons,” Clarke said. “Nobody seems to know what the fuck Asperger’s is, and it’s frustrating. If anyone in Arizona is listening, please guide me.”
While the two officers talked to Clarke, a third went back to his car to obtain a “less than lethal” bean-bag shotgun. Before the officer could return, police say Clarke became agressive.
“At that point they felt their lives were threatened,” Detective Estaban Flores said. Both police officers fired their guns.
Clarke’s mother, Stacia Jacobs, also misgendered the newly transitioning Clarke in her remarks to KPHO, but expressed concern and outrage that police would shoot and kill a mentally ill individual.
“My daughter died for asking for help,” she said Friday. “She was in her own place. And regardless of what she was thinking, what she was doing, she wasn’t posing a danger to the community. There has to be better way for law enforcement to respond and handle situations.”