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Killing of Alton Sterling

Coordinates: 30°28′05″N 91°08′22″W / 30.4680°N 91.13954°W / 30.4680; -91.13954
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Killing of Alton Sterling
Sterling just before being shot and killed
DateJuly 5, 2016 (2016-07-05)
Time12:35 a.m.
Location2112 North Foster Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Coordinates30°28′05″N 91°08′22″W / 30.4680°N 91.13954°W / 30.4680; -91.13954
TypeShooting
Filmed byBystander's cell phone and security cameras
ParticipantsHowie Lake II, Blane Salamoni (officers)
OutcomeUnder investigation
DeathsAlton Sterling

On July 5, 2016, Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, was shot several times at close range while held down on the ground by two white Baton Rouge Police Department officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[1] Police were responding to a report that a man in a red shirt was selling CDs, and that he had used a gun to threaten someone outside a convenience store.[2] The shooting was recorded by multiple bystanders.

The shooting led to protests in Baton Rouge and a request for a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Background

Victim


Alton Sterling (June 14, 1979 – July 5, 2016) was known locally in Baton Rouge as "CD Man."[3] He had a criminal record that included violent offenses; a 2009 affidavit of probable cause that said he resisted arrest and, a "black semi auto gun fell from his waistband" as the arresting officer wrestled him on the ground.[4] The arresting officers were not aware of Alton Sterling's record at the time of the shooting.[5]

The owner of the store where the shooting occurred, Abdullah Muflahi, said that Sterling had started carrying a gun a few days prior to the event as other CD vendors had been robbed recently. Muflahi also said that Sterling was "not the one causing trouble" during the situation that led to the police being called.[6] At the time of his death, Sterling was 37 years old.[3][7]

Police

The police officers involved in the shooting were Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni. Lake had three years of law enforcement experience which included a previous shooting of an African-American male. He was subsequently placed on a department-mandated leave; Salamoni had four years of experience.[8] Salamoni and Lake had both been previously investigated and cleared by their department for use of excessive force.[9]

Shooting

At 12:35 p.m., at 2112 North Foster Drive, in the parking lot of Triple S Food Mart, Sterling was detained by Baton Rouge Police Department officers. This came after an anonymous caller reported that a man believed to be Sterling was threatening him and waving a handgun while in the process of selling CDs. The officers tased Sterling,[10][11] then forced the heavy-set man to the hood of a sedan and then to the ground. Sterling was pinned to the ground by both officers, one kneeling on his chest and the other on his thigh, both attempting to control his arms.[10]

One officer exclaimed, "He's got a gun! Gun!" One of the officers yelled, "If you fucking move, I swear to God!" Then Salamoni was heard on the video saying, "Lake, he's going for the gun!" One of the officers aimed his gun at Sterling's body, then three gunshots were heard. The camera panned away just before the camera panned back and three more gunshots were heard. The police officer sitting on Sterling's chest was not in the picture and the other officer who drew the gun, was about 3 feet (0.91 m) away. His gun was pointed on Sterling, who had a gunshot wound in his chest.[12] According to witness Abdullah Muflahi, the officers then retrieved a firearm from Sterling's pocket.[10] The officers then radioed for Emergency Medical Services.[6]

According to Parish Coroner William Clark of East Baton Rouge, a preliminary autopsy on July 5, indicated that Sterling had died from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and back.[13]

Multiple bystanders' cell phones captured videos of the shooting as well as store surveillance cameras and officer body cameras.[14] One of the bystander's videos was filmed by a group called "Stop the Killing" which, listens to police scanners and films crimes in progress. They also listen to police interactions in an effort to reduce violence in the community.[15] A second video was made available the day after the shooting by the store owner and eyewitness, Abdullah Muflahi.[11][16] In a statement to NBC News, Muflahi said that "Sterling never wielded the gun or threatened the officers."[11]

Aftermath and reactions

On the night of July 5, more than 100 demonstrators in Baton Rouge shouted "no justice, no peace," set off fireworks, and blocked an intersection to protest Sterling's death.[17] Flowers and messages were left at the place of his death. The police cleared a crowd of about 200 people as organizers announced they would regroup in front of City Hall.[18]

On July 6, Black Lives Matter held a candlelight vigil in Baton Rouge, with chants of "We love Baton Rouge" and, called for justice.[19]

Speaking shortly after the shootings of Sterling and Philando Castile, President Barack Obama did not comment on the specific incidents. Obama called upon the U.S. to "do better." He also said "Americans should feel outraged at episodes of police brutality since they're rooted in long-simmering racial discord."[20][21]

On July 7, a protest was held in Dallas, Texas, relating to this shooting of Sterling and Castile on July 6. At the end of the peaceful protest, Micah Xavier Johnson opened fire in an ambush, killing five police officers and wounding nine others including two civilians. Johnson was then killed by a robot-delivered bomb.

Also, on July 7, the FBI's New Orleans field office issued a warning about "threats to law enforcement and potential threats to the safety of the general public," stemming from the death of Sterling.[22]

Following the shootings of Sterling, Castile, and Dallas police officers, the Bahamian government issued a travel advisory. Bahamian citizens were told to use caution when traveling to the U.S. due to racial tensions. They specifically advised that young men use "extreme caution" when interacting with police, to be non-confrontational and cooperative.[23][24] Similar advisories were issued by the governments of United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, days later.[25][26]

On July 8, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a statement strongly condemning Sterling and Castile's killings. Human rights expert Ricardo A. Sunga III, the current Chair of the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, stated that the killings demonstrate "a high level of structural and institutional racism. Adding that "The United States is far from recognizing the same rights for all its citizens. Existing measures to address racist crimes motivated by prejudice are insufficient and have failed to stop the killings".[27][28]

On July 9, a protest in Baton Rouge turned violent, with one police officer having several teeth knocked out and eight firearms (including three rifles, three shotguns, and two pistols) being confiscated from New Black Panther Party members.[29] Police arrested 102 people.[30] On July 10, between 30 and 40 people were also arrested.[31]

Professor Peniel E. Joseph, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at Tufts University, said that "the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile evoke the past spectacle of lynching and that for change to happen, Americans must confront the pain of black history."[32]

On July 11, a home in Baton Rouge was raided in connection with a pawn shop burglary in which seven or eight guns and ammunition were stolen. Three people were arrested during the raid, one of whom said the group was planning on using the stolen firearms to shoot police officers at protests.[33]

On July 13, local organizing groups and the American Civil Liberties Union's Louisiana branch, filed a lawsuit against the Baton Rouge Police Department for violating the First Amendment rights of demonstrators. They claim they were protesting peacefully against Sterling's death.[34]

On July 17, Gavin Eugene Long shot and killed three police officers and wounded several others in Baton Rouge. Long was killed at the scene during a shootout with responding officers. The shooting has been linked to the nationwide tension over race and policing, with the event happening days after Sterling's death in the same city.[35][36]

Investigation

Louisiana U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond said that the footage of Sterling's shooting is "deeply troubling" and called for a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the man's death.[37] Governor John Bel Edwards announced on July 6, that the Department of Justice would launch an investigation.[38] A civil rights investigation was opened by the Department of Justice on July 7.[39]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Alton Sterling's relatives weather scrutiny, call for justice". Washington Post. July 13, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  2. ^ "Alton Sterling case: DA Hillar Moore recuses himself from the investigation". CBS News. Associated Press. July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Berlinger, Joshua; Shoichet, Catherine E.; Almasy, Steve (July 7, 2016). "Alton Sterling shooting: Piecing together what happened before the videos". CNN. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  4. ^ McBride, Jessica (July 6, 2016). "Alton Sterling Arrest Record, Criminal History & Rap Sheet [DOCUMENTS]". Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  5. ^ Evon, Dan (July 8, 2016). "Bloods and RIPs". Snopes. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "'Suspect down': Video footage, dispatch tape from Alton Sterling police shooting released (GRAPHIC)". RT. July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  7. ^ Silverstein, Jason (July 6, 2016). "Who was Alton Sterling? What we know so far about the man killed by Baton Rouge police". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  8. ^ Murdock, Sebastian (July 6, 2016). "Howie Lake II, Blane Salamoni Identified As Officers Involved In Fatal Shooting Of Alton Sterling". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  9. ^ Garcia, Arturo (July 7, 2016). "Cops in Alton Sterling shooting investigated five times in seven years". Raw Story. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c Lau, Maya; Stole, Bryn (July 6, 2016). "'He's got a gun! Gun': Video shows fatal confrontation between Alton Sterling, Baton Rouge police officer". The Advocate. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c Johnson, Alex; Gutierrez, Gabe (July 6, 2016). "Baton Rouge Store Owner Says His Video Shows Cops 'Murdered' Alton Sterling". NBC News. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  12. ^ "Graphic New Video Surfaces Showing Police Execute Alton Sterling as they Held His Arms Down". July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  13. ^ Shoichet, Catherine E.; Berlinger, Joshua; Almasy, Steve (July 6, 2016). "Alton Sterling shooting: Second video emerges". CNN. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "GRAPHIC: New cell phone video emerges in BRPD shooting". WAFB. July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  15. ^ Andrews, Travis M. (July 6, 2016). "The story behind the filming of the fatal Baton Rouge police shooting. It was no coincidence". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  16. ^ Miller, Justin (July 6, 2016). "New Video Emerges of Alton Sterling Being Killed by Baton Rouge Police". Daily Beast. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  17. ^ Brennan, Christopher (July 5, 2016). "Alton Sterling shot, killed by Louisiana cops during struggle after he was selling music outside Baton Rouge store". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  18. ^ "US protests after police shooting of black man in Louisiana". BBC News. July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  19. ^ Jacobo, Julia (July 6, 2016). "Baton Rouge Police Shooting: Alton Sterling's Aunt Says She Wants 'Justice' at Vigil". ABC News. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  20. ^ Wang, Christine (July 7, 2016). "Obama: All Americans should be troubled by recent police shootings". CNBC. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  21. ^ McLaughlin, Eliott C. (July 8, 2016). "Woman streams aftermath of fatal officer-involved shooting". Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  22. ^ Shapiro, Emily; Hayden, Michael Edison; Blake, Paul (July 17, 2016). "Gunman Identified in Shooting That Killed 3 Baton Rouge Officers". ABC News. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  23. ^ Davis, Aaron C. (July 9, 2016). "The Bahamas' new U.S. travel advisory: Use 'extreme caution' around police". Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  24. ^ "Bahamas Issues Travel Advisory to the US Following Shootings". ABC News. Associated Press. July 9, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  25. ^ "UAE, Bahrain warn citizens heading to US amid protests". Al Jazeera. July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  26. ^ Lange, Jason; Hirsch, Lauren (July 10, 2016). "Three countries urge caution traveling to U.S. amid protests, violence". Reuters. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  27. ^ Sunga, Ricardo A. III (July 8, 2016). "USA / People of African descent: UN expert group condemns recent killings". Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  28. ^ "UN sounds alarm over 'structural and institutional racism' in US". RT. July 9, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  29. ^ Hayden, Michael Edison; Caplan, David (July 10, 2016). "Protests Continue in Baton Rouge and St. Paul Following Night of Arrests". ABC News. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  30. ^ Daley, Ken (July 10, 2016). "43 of 102 arrested protesters from outside Baton Rouge, police say". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  31. ^ Kunzelman, Michael; Santana, Rebecca (July 11, 2016). "Baton Rouge Protests Spark Arrests". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  32. ^ Joseph, Peniel E. (July 11, 2016). "For change to happen, Americans must confront the pain of black history". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  33. ^ Schmaltz, Trey; Nakamoto, Chris (July 11, 2016). "Federal raid at BR home tied to murder plot against police". WBRZ-TV. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  34. ^ "07.13.2016: Local groups and ACLU of Louisiana Sue Baton Rouge Police for First Amendment Violations at Alton Sterling Protest". ACLU of Louisiana. July 13, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  35. ^ Goldman, Adam (July 18, 2016). "Police: Officers in Baton Rouge were 'targeted and assassinated'". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  36. ^ Buchanan, Larry; Burgess, Joe; Fessenden, Ford (July 17, 2016). "How the Shooting of Police Officers in Baton Rouge Unfolded". The New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  37. ^ Craven, Julia (July 6, 2016). "Graphic Video Shows Baton Rouge Police Shooting Alton Sterling". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  38. ^
  39. ^ Fausset, Richard; Pérez-Peña, Richard; Johnson, Campbell (July 6, 2016). "Alton Sterling Shooting in Baton Rouge Prompts Justice Dept. Investigation". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
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