Death on Campus: Dr. Cameisha Clark

In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: On the morning of May 2, 2025, Dr. Cameisha Clark, a beloved college dean and advocate against gun violence, was shot inside her office. Known for her warmth, brilliance, and dedication, she had already endured personal tragedy—until a senseless act of violence took her life. While authorities have charged the suspect, many questions remain, including the motive behind the attack. If you have any information that could help investigators better understand the events surrounding Dr. Clark’s shooting, or details relevant to the ongoing investigation, please contact the Inglewood Police Department at 310-412-5246. 

This is the story of Dr. Cameisha Clark.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that happened on the morning of May two,
twenty twenty five, a gunman walked into a college building

(00:21):
in Inglewood, California. Within minutes, a thirty five year old
dean of student affairs was shot inside of her office.
A woman known for her warmth, brilliance, and advocacy against
gun violence tragically became a victim of it. The shooter

(00:42):
a former campus security guard. The motive still officially unknown.
This is the story of doctor Kamisha Clark. Doctor Kamish
Denise Clark was thirty five years old in the spring

(01:02):
of twenty twenty five. She was the dean of student
Affairs at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood,
a position she had recently been promoted to. To those
who knew doctor Clark, she was light itself, vivacious, fashionable, caring.

(01:23):
She had a unique talent for knowing when someone needed help,
even when they stayed silent. Her friends called it a
gift her students called her a rock. She was a
three time alumna of Clark Atlanta University in Georgia, where
she earned her bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees in education.

(01:46):
Just two months before her life was cut short. Cou
School of Education spotlighted her phenomenal career in an Instagram post,
celebrating not only her academic achievements, but also her time
working at the university. She was also a proud member
of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Outside of her work in

(02:09):
higher education, doctor Clark also founded c Squared, a community
foundation in Atlanta. She aspired to become the president of
a historically black college or university, and was making major
strides towards that goal. Doctor Clark's passion for ending gun
violence was deeply personal as well. She had already lost

(02:33):
both her father and her brother to it. Those tragedies
drove her to speak about it whenever she could, mentoring
students and joining community programs about safe conflict resolution. It
was a Friday morning at Spartan College. Doctor Clark was
likely in her office going through her daily routine when

(02:55):
forty year old former contract security guard Jesse Figueroa of
Monterey Park entered the building, he was not there for work.
He was armed with other intentions. According to Inglewood Mayor
James Buttz, Figueroa opened fire and appeared to target doctor Clark.

(03:18):
The mayor called it quote a workplace violence incident involving
a disagreement. Doctor Clark was shot along with another employee,
an admissions assistant, who was wounded but survived. Police had
arrived within minutes, and Figueroa was arrested nearby. Roughly three

(03:41):
hours later, Doctor Camisia Clark was rushed to the hospital
in critical condition. Tragically, she passed away of her injuries
on Monday May fifth, twenty twenty five. She was just
thirty five years old. The other victim was listed in

(04:02):
stable condition and expected to recover. News of the shooting
sent shockwaves through the campus community, her hometown of Atlanta,
and everyone who doctor Clark impacted. Authorities arrested Jesse Figueroa.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged him with

(04:25):
one count of murder, one count of attempted murder, and
two firearm possession counts, along with gunguse sentencing enhancements that
each carry twenty five years to life. He was initially
held on a one million dollar bail, later increased to

(04:45):
about five point zero three million. Prosecutors also recommended no bail.
His arraignment was scheduled for May twenty ninth, twenty twenty five.
At that hearing, he pleaded not guilty. The case is
ongoing and he remains presumed innocent until proven guilty. Authorities

(05:08):
interviewed dozens of students and staff trying to determine why
the former guard had targeted doctor Clark. As of today,
the DA's charging documents contain no motive. The mayor has
referenced a disagreement, but no specific details have been released.

(05:29):
Back in Atlanta, doctor Clark's family and friends were devastated.
Her grandmother, doctor Betty Clark, told Fox five Atlanta, I
don't understand. I'm asking God and everybody to help me
understand this so I don't. Her aunt, Kara Clark, spoke

(05:51):
through heartbreak, saying a young lady that has built a
life that has touched so many others, how she deserved
that fate, and her mother summed it up in just
a few powerful words, I am going to remember her light.
She was the light. Just days before the shooting, Doctor

(06:16):
Clark called her grandmother with excitement. She called and said, Grandma,
I'm in my world now, I'm following in your footsteps
because I went up in administration at a college. I'm
a dean. Her grandmother had also worked in higher education
and was overjoyed. Doctor Clark was flourishing in her role,

(06:40):
fulfilling her dreams. Tragically, her life was abruptly and senselessly
cut short. Clark Atlanta University honored her at its baccalaureate
ceremony on May seventeen, twenty twenty five, and created the
Doctor Kamisha Clark Scholarship Fund in the School of Education,

(07:03):
reported as a ten thousand dollars fund to support future educators.
Her funeral was held at Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta,
where she and her grandmother had been members. Friends, students,
and colleagues filled the sanctuary to celebrate her life and

(07:24):
her impact. For years, doctor Clark spoke out against gun violence,
the same violence that claimed her father and her brother.
Her family and friends now see her untimely passing as
a call to continue that work. As of this recording,
Jesse Faguerreoua's case remains pending in the Los Angeles County Courts.

(07:49):
Reports indicate no full trial date has been publicly announced.
Authorities have not presented a verified motive in the charging
papers aside forms aside from describing the shooting as a
workplace violence, aside from describing the shooting as workplace violence

(08:13):
and referencing let me redo that last sentence, aside from
describing the shooting as workplace violence and referencing a disagreement.
In August twenty twenty five, doctor Clark's family filed a
wrongful death lawsuit against Spartan College and a security firm,

(08:36):
alleging failures in background checks, employment screening, and safety oversight.
While the legal process continues, her family and community remain
determined to see justice served and to carry forward the
work she began. My thoughts and prayers are with the

(08:56):
family and friends of doctor Camisia Clark. If you have
any information that could help authorities better understand the events
of May second, or details relevant to the ongoing investigation,
please contact the Inglewood Police Department. Their contact information can
be found in the description box below. As we close

(09:18):
out this episode, remember that sharing doctor Kamisia Clark's story
not only brings awareness to her case. It could also
help prevent another senseless tragedy from happening in our communities.
Don't forget to click the follow button to stay updated
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(09:38):
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if you're watching us on YouTube, cheer your thoughts on
this case and the comments below. Thank you so much
for joining us on another episode until next time. Hunting

(10:11):
for Answers is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network.
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