The Tuesday Louisiana police shooting, which has sparked protests and a federal investigation, all began with a homeless man’s 911 call.
Officers responded to a call in Baton Rouge early Tuesday and got into a struggle with Alton Sterling, 37. One officer fired multiple shots into Sterling’s back and chest, killing him. A homeless man made the 911 call that first brought police to Sterling, a law enforcement official told KTLA5. The official said the homeless man repeatedly asked Sterling for money before Sterling showed the homeless man his gun. That’s when he called the police.
The Daily Wire reports that Sterling was a father of five children to different mothers and had a criminal record, including illegally carrying a weapon, marijuana possession, aggravated battery, domestic abuse battery, simple criminal damage to property and unauthorized entry. He is also registered as a sex offender for “carnal knowledge of a juvenile.”
A video capturing the incident shows two cops yelling at a black man outside a convenience store.
“Get on the ground! Get on the ground!”
After a struggle, the officers get the man face-down on the ground.
A voice yells, “He’s got a gun!”
Then what sounds like gunshots ring out. The Department of Justice is investigating the shooting.
WARNING: This video may be disturbing to some viewers.
WATCH:
Abdul Muflahi, the store’s owner, told WAFB-TV that one of the cops used a Taser on Sterling before they went to the ground. The owner said he didn’t see Sterling pull out a gun, but that he did see officers take a firearm out of Sterling’s pocket after the shooting. A second, more graphic video of the shooting appears to show that gun.
WARNING: This video may be disturbing to some viewers.
WATCH:
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