Court sets new trial in “Black and Blue” case

Next month, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office plans to re-present its case against a man accused of attempted murder in a Halloween 2022 shooting.

Whether Isaac Rashad Clark, 25, of Lancaster, shot the victim after an altercation outside the Black and Blue restaurant in the Valencia shopping center was not disputed by the defense during the nearly three-week trial.

However, the jury, which asked numerous questions during two days of deliberations, reported that it was “hopelessly deadlocked” on whether the shooting was attempted murder, as the prosecution claimed, or self-defense, as Clark's attorney argued.

The jury asked some questions and then listened to arguments before announcing on August 8 that they could not reach a consensus.

Assistant District Attorney Shareen Nazimi argued that after an altercation at the restaurant, Clark waited for his victim outside the bar, goaded him into another altercation, and then shot him in the parking lot while Clark was surrounded by his friends.

Defense attorney Jaaye Person-Lynn argued that the victim was larger than Clark and that Clark ran for his life and even fired warning shots when the victim ran 180 feet toward him across the Valencia Mall parking lot before the shooting.

Clark had a previous criminal record, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm or ammunition.

He was found guilty of three counts of weapons possession in connection with the shooting.

In May 2021, Clark was sentenced to 16 months in Los Angeles County Prison for grand larceny.

He also pleaded no contest to a charge of reckless driving related to a 2017 driving under the influence allegation, a 2019 assault conviction related to a domestic violence allegation and a June 2019 grand larceny conviction related to a robbery allegation, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records available online.

Court records show that Judge David Walgren ordered a retrial on the two additional charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon at the request of the prosecution and over the objection of the defense.

A sentencing hearing for Clark on the weapons charge and to discuss his next trial is scheduled for September 6.

Clark remains in custody on bail of more than $2 million.