Captured on at least two videos, graphic images of the shooting of Alton Sterling, 37, early Tuesday stirred protests and social media outcry over the latest case of alleged police brutality against African-Americans in cities from Ferguson, Missouri, to Baltimore and New York.
One of the two officers shot Sterling five times at close range, and the other removed something from Sterling's pants pocket as he was dying, according to images on a video recorded by Abdullah Muflahi, owner of the Triple S Food Mart where Sterling was killed in the parking lot.
"I'm heartbroken. It's outrageous. It's crazy," said Muflahi, who considered Sterling a friend and allowed him to sell CDs outside his store. He provided a copy of the video to Reuters and said police took a gun from Sterling's pocket.
Demonstrators encourage passing motorists to honk outside the Triple S convenience store in Baton Rouge, La (AAP) Source: AAP
Overnight, about 200 protesters gathered outside the store chanting "Hands up, don't shoot" and "Black lives matter" and more protests were planned for Wednesday evening.
Local officials rushed to defuse tensions on Wednesday, saying there would be an independent investigation, after media showed a separate graphic video of the shooting recorded by a bystander.
"I have very serious concerns. The video is disturbing, to say the least," Governor John Bel Edwards told reporters.
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden and local police said they welcomed the probe launched by the Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and federal prosecutors.
Graphic videos
The video recorded on the bystander's cell phone shows an officer confronting Sterling in the parking lot of the store and ordering him to get on the ground. The two officers then tackle Sterling to the pavement, with one pulling a gun from his holster and pointing it at his chest.
Muflahi's video shows the officers on top of Sterling. One of them yells "he's got a gun." The video jerks away from the scene after the first two shots are fired. Three more shots are heard, then the camera shows one of the officers leaning over Sterling and taking something out of his pocket.
Police did not say how many shots were fired and declined to say whether a stun gun was used on Sterling. Muflahi said police Tasered Sterling before he was tackled.
The two police officers involved in the shooting, Blane Salamoni, a 4-year veteran, and Howie Lake, a 3-year veteran, were both put on administrative leave, Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie said at a news conference.
The officers were responding to a call regarding a black man wearing a red shirt, who reportedly made threats with a gun, Dabadie said.
"When officers arrived Sterling was armed and the altercation ensued that resulted in the loss of his life," Dabadie said.
The body cameras of both officers became dislodged during the altercation, but continued recording audio and video, police said at the news conference. Those and other recordings will be turned over to federal investigators, police spokesman Lieutenant Johnny Dunham told reporters.
Rap sheet
Relatives of Sterling and acquaintances from the neighborhood described him as a local fixture who had been peddling copied CDs, DVDs and games in front of the Triple S Food Mart for years.
According to court records, Sterling has multiple criminal convictions since the mid-1990s, for battery, resisting arrest, burglary and other crimes. He is a registered sex offender after spending close to four years in prison for felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
Those who knew him described a funny, jovial and friendly person who worked hard.
"I'd never seen him get out of hand with anyone," said Elvina Scott, who lives nearby and said she had purchased a CD from Sterling a few minutes before the shooting.
Cameron Sterling, Alton's 15-year-old son, broke down crying at a news conference on Wednesday morning as his mother spoke. "He was killed unjustly and without regard for the lives he helped raise," said the mother, who did not give her name.
