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Alton Sterling Shooting by Baton Rouge Police Sets Off Protests Alton Sterling Police Shooting Prompts Justice Dept. Investigation in Baton Rouge
(35 minutes later)
State lawmakers and civic leaders in Baton Rouge, La., called on Wednesday for an independent investigation into the fatal police shooting of a black resident, Alton Sterling, during an arrest that was partially captured on video. The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of a black man by the Baton Rouge police, as Louisiana’s governor appealed to a city roiled by the killing to remain calm.
Speaking at a news conference, the officials and family members said they want to know why Mr. Sterling had been shot and killed outside a convenience store where he was selling CDs. Two officers were arresting Alton B. Sterling, 37, early Tuesday, and had him pinned to the ground when at least one of them shot him — an episode that was partially captured on video. The shooting prompted protests, and relatives of Mr. Sterling, civic leaders and state lawmakers demanded an investigation independent of the Baton Rouge police.
“I have full confidence that this matter will be investigated thoroughly, impartially and professionally,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “I have very serious concerns. The video is disturbing, to say the least.”
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the F.B.I. and the United States Attorney’s Office in Baton Rouge are conducting the investigation, the department said in a statement. The governor endorsed the federal takeover of the case, saying that he had discussed it with federal law enforcement officials, and he promised the cooperation of the State Police.
Pleading for calm, the governor said: “I know that that may be tough for some, but it’s essential that we do that. I know that there are protests going on, but it’s urgent that they remain peaceful.”
Speaking at an earlier news conference, officials and family members said they want edto know why Mr. Sterling had been shot and killed outside a convenience store where he was selling CDs.
“This community deserves an answer,” said State Representative C. Denise Marcelle.“This community deserves an answer,” said State Representative C. Denise Marcelle.
Ms. Marcelle said she had asked the police chief to hand the investigation over to the Louisiana State Police to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. Others asked that the Justice Department initiate an investigation. The Baton Rouge police chief, Carl Dabadie Jr., was expected to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon. At 12:35 a.m. Tuesday, police officers went to the Triple S. Food Mart on North Foster Drive in response to a call about a man selling music CD’s and wearing a red shirt who was said to have threatened someone with a gun, the Police Department has said. A cellphone video shot by a bystander, which was released later in the day, showed Mr. Sterling tackled by a police officer. He is then held to the ground by two officers, and one officer appears to hold a gun above Mr. Sterling’s chest. (The linked video is graphic.)
Scores of protesters gathered in Baton Rouge on Tuesday after Mr. Sterling, 37, was killed in a shooting about 12:30 a.m. outside the Triple S Food Mart, where he was known to sell CDs. At one point someone on the video can be heard saying, “He’s got a gun! Gun!” and one officer can be seen pulling his weapon. After some shouting, what sounds like gunshots can be heard and the camera shifts away. Then more shots can be heard. The police have not said whether Mr. Sterling had a gun, though there have been reports that they recovered one from him.
In a statement, the police said they had received a call from someone who reported having been threatened by an armed man wearing a red shirt who was selling the discs outside the store. A police spokeswoman reached early Wednesday said that she could not comment beyond the statement, which provided no details of what it called an “altercation” between Mr. Sterling and the two officers who responded. It is also unclear whether both officers fired their guns, or only one; both were placed on administrative leave. William Clark, the coroner of East Baton Rouge Parish, who is known as Beau, said that Mr. Sterling had died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and back.
William Clark, the coroner of East Baton Rouge Parish, who is known as Beau, said that Mr. Sterling had died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and back. Scores of protesters gathered in Baton Rouge on Tuesday after Mr. Sterling was killed.
A cellphone video shot by a bystander, which was released later in the day, showed Mr. Sterling tackled by a police officer. He is then held to the ground by two officers, and one officer appears to hold a gun above Mr. Sterling’s chest. (The linked video is graphic.)
At one point someone on the video can be heard saying, “He’s got a gun! Gun!” and one officer can be seen pulling his weapon. After some shouting, what sounds like gunshots can be heard and the camera shifts away. Then more shots can be heard. It is unclear whether Mr. Sterling had a gun, though there are some reports that police recovered one from his pocket.
The two officers were placed on leave immediately after the shooting, according to the police statement. It is unclear whether Mr. Sterling had a gun, though there are some reports that police recovered one from his pocket. Someone on the video can be heard saying, “He’s got a gun.”
Ms. Marcelle, the lawmaker, who was briefed by the police, said that the officers had been wearing body cameras during the confrontation with Mr. Sterling but that she was told they fell off during the struggle.Ms. Marcelle, the lawmaker, who was briefed by the police, said that the officers had been wearing body cameras during the confrontation with Mr. Sterling but that she was told they fell off during the struggle.
She said investigators had recovered surveillance footage from cameras mounted at a convenience store and on the dashboard of a patrol car.She said investigators had recovered surveillance footage from cameras mounted at a convenience store and on the dashboard of a patrol car.
Edmond Jordan, a lawyer for the Sterling family who is also a state representative, called on the Baton Rouge police to release the video collected from a camera at the convenience store, which the store owner has suggested captured the entire confrontation.Edmond Jordan, a lawyer for the Sterling family who is also a state representative, called on the Baton Rouge police to release the video collected from a camera at the convenience store, which the store owner has suggested captured the entire confrontation.
“There are no criminal charges pending against anyone as far as we know,” Mr. Jordan said, adding, “So why are they holding on to this video?”“There are no criminal charges pending against anyone as far as we know,” Mr. Jordan said, adding, “So why are they holding on to this video?”
At one point during the news conference on Wednesday, Cameron Sterling, the 15-year-old son of Mr. Sterling’s wept uncontrollably as his mother, Quinyetta McMillon, delivered a statement.At one point during the news conference on Wednesday, Cameron Sterling, the 15-year-old son of Mr. Sterling’s wept uncontrollably as his mother, Quinyetta McMillon, delivered a statement.
“The individuals involved in his murder took away a man with children who depended upon their daddy on a daily basis,” Ms. McMillon said, adding, “As a mother I have now been forced to raise a son who is going to remember what happened to his father.”“The individuals involved in his murder took away a man with children who depended upon their daddy on a daily basis,” Ms. McMillon said, adding, “As a mother I have now been forced to raise a son who is going to remember what happened to his father.”
Other civic leaders, including the local N.A.A.C.P. president, Mike McClanahan, called for the police chief to step down. In a Twitter post early Wednesday, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson called the shooting a “legal lynching.”Other civic leaders, including the local N.A.A.C.P. president, Mike McClanahan, called for the police chief to step down. In a Twitter post early Wednesday, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson called the shooting a “legal lynching.”
Mr. Sterling’s name began trending on Twitter Tuesday night, as people expressed disgust and anguish at his death. Images from social media showed large numbers of protesters marching in Baton Rouge.Mr. Sterling’s name began trending on Twitter Tuesday night, as people expressed disgust and anguish at his death. Images from social media showed large numbers of protesters marching in Baton Rouge.
A crowd outside of the Triple S Food Mart on Tuesday swelled to more than 200 people, according to The Baton Rouge Advocate, with many demanding that the officers be punished.A crowd outside of the Triple S Food Mart on Tuesday swelled to more than 200 people, according to The Baton Rouge Advocate, with many demanding that the officers be punished.
At times, they chanted, “Black lives matter,” and “hands up, don’t shoot,” rallying cries that have echoed at protests across the country in recent years over concerns about racial bias in shootings by police officers.At times, they chanted, “Black lives matter,” and “hands up, don’t shoot,” rallying cries that have echoed at protests across the country in recent years over concerns about racial bias in shootings by police officers.
Representative Cedric Richmond, Democrat of Louisiana, released a statement early Wednesday that expressed outrage over the shooting and called on the Justice Department to investigate.Representative Cedric Richmond, Democrat of Louisiana, released a statement early Wednesday that expressed outrage over the shooting and called on the Justice Department to investigate.
“I ask the leaders and citizens of Baton Rouge to join me in demonstrating our anger with dignity and demanding proper focus on our cause with perseverance,” he said. “His family and the citizens of Baton Rouge — especially the citizens of North Baton Rouge — deserve answers and that is what we will seek in a fair, thorough, and transparent way.”“I ask the leaders and citizens of Baton Rouge to join me in demonstrating our anger with dignity and demanding proper focus on our cause with perseverance,” he said. “His family and the citizens of Baton Rouge — especially the citizens of North Baton Rouge — deserve answers and that is what we will seek in a fair, thorough, and transparent way.”
Mr. Jordan, the family lawyer, said that he did not know whether Mr. Sterling carried a gun and that several relatives he had spoken with “were not aware that he had a gun.” Mr. Jordan, speaking on CNN, said he did not think the shooting was justified and questioned why the officer fired, and then waited to fire again.Mr. Jordan, the family lawyer, said that he did not know whether Mr. Sterling carried a gun and that several relatives he had spoken with “were not aware that he had a gun.” Mr. Jordan, speaking on CNN, said he did not think the shooting was justified and questioned why the officer fired, and then waited to fire again.
“The city has to give some good answers,” he said, “and I don’tthink they will be able to.”“The city has to give some good answers,” he said, “and I don’tthink they will be able to.”
Mr. Jordan urged calm in the community, asking that the protests remain peaceful out of respect for Mr. Sterling.Mr. Jordan urged calm in the community, asking that the protests remain peaceful out of respect for Mr. Sterling.
By Wednesday morning, a memorial was set up outside the Triple S Food Mart. A vigil was scheduled to be held there at 6 p.m. By Wednesday morning, a makeshift memorial was set up outside the Triple S Food Mart. A vigil was scheduled to be held there at 6 p.m.