Shocking footage has emerged of a police officer pinning down a black man, before shooting him at point blank range.
According to coroner Dr William Clark, Alton Sterling, 37, was shot several times in the chest and back in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In the 48-second video of the incident – which looks like it has been captured on a smartphone – a policeman can be seen tackling a man, before another officer helps hold him to the ground.
One of the officers then draws his gun and holds it to the man’s head, before one of them says: “You fucking move, I swear to God.” A matter of seconds later, two shots can be heard, followed by three to four more.
One witness described the police officers as ‘aggressive’, adding that despite Sterling being armed, he did not reach for his pockets and was not holding a weapon during the incident, The Advocate reports.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie Jr. claims that both officers’ body cameras fell off during the incident, NewsWest9 reports.
This happened after police were called to Triple S Food Mart at 12.35am yesterday, after getting a tip-off that a man selling CDs had threatened someone with a gun, Corporal L’Jean McKneely told local news outlets.
Two officers responded, before an altercation broke out between them and Alton, in which he was shot dead.
Both of the officers involved have now been placed on administrative leave, while an investigation is being carried out.
Since the graphic footage emerged online, protesters flooded the streets of Baton Rogue on Tuesday evening. The group grew to over 200 people, who chanted and waved signs late into the night, according to The Advocate.
Our thoughts are with his friends and family during this difficult time.
