Original story: 7/05/16
Alton Sterling, 37 years old, was outside of a Baton Rouge, Louisiana convenience store selling CDs. Police received a call that there was a disturbance outside the store. Two police officers arrived and attempted to subdue Mr. Sterling who was reported as brandishing a gun. During the melee, Sterling died of gunshots to the back and chest. Part of the melee was recorded on cell phone video and shared on social media. Source: CNN: Alton Sterling shooting: Homeless man made 911 call, sources say
Update: 7/18/16: Police officers murdered
In the days since the death of Alton Sterling, three Baton Rouge police officers were murdered in an ambush. Sterling’s family released a statement saying they were “heartbroken” at the loss of the officers’ lives. The family asked for the bloodshed to cease and called for peace. The assailant that killed the police officers, Gavin Long, was a retired Marine said to be outraged at the killings of Sterling and Castile. Long spent his 29th birthday killing the police officers. They fired back killing Long at the scene. Source: Yahoo! News: Alton Sterling’s family ‘heartbroken’ over attack on Baton Rouge police
Update: 7/25/16: Man who uploaded video fired
Christopher LeDay was fired from his job at a private security firm after he posted video of the altercation between Sterling and the police. LeDay contends that the video was recorded by a third party and he merely uploaded the video and asked that it go viral. The police contend LeDay was taken into custody because of an outstanding warrant which was issued because he failed to appear in court on several traffic charges. Source: Independent: Alton Sterling: Man lost his job after posting video of police shooting dead black man
Update: 8/02/16: Sterling’s autopsy report sealed
The judge has sealed the autopsy report. The coroner is also prohibited from releasing the order stating that the autopsy results are sealed. Source: NBC: Judge has sealed Alton Sterling’s autopsy report, coroner says
Update: 8/08/16: Aunt laments investigation timeline
Alton Sterling’s aunt voiced impatience at the slow pace of the federal government’s investigation into the shooting. She wants the investigation “over with” so the healing process can begin. Her call for the investigation to speed up is out of a fear that new outbreaks of violence will occur. Source: The Advertiser: Alton Sterling’s aunt says shooting probe taking too long
Update: 9/26/16: Family frustrated
Hilar Moore, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney, recused himself from the Sterling investigation because of his professional relationship with the parents of one of the two officers in the shooting. Sandra Sterling, one of Alton’s aunts, said her nephew’s death was being overshadowed by the recent historic flooding in Louisiana. Alton’s other two aunts yelled at Moore as he exited the press conference.
Federal authorities will investigate whether or not Alton’s civil rights were violated by the officers by their use of excessive or unreasonable force. Source: NOLA.com: Alton Sterling’s family wants swift federal investigation
Update: 10/08/16: Video of Alton Sterling being shot: WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE:
Update: 10/18/16: Speed up investigation
Ernest Johnson, the director of the NAACP’s Louisiana office is calling for federal officials to update their progress in Sterling’s death investigation. He stated, “If we haven’t seen some response by the end of this month, you’ll probably see people becoming concerned about the slowness of the investigation.”
Walt Green, U.S. attorney for Louisiana’s Middle District, stated, “The investigation remains ongoing, and will conclude only when we have gathered, reviewed and evaluated all available evidence,” and there is no deadline for completing the probe. The U.S. attorney’s office, the U.S. Justice Department, and the FBI are investigating the incident.
Sandra Sterling, Alton’s aunt, is concerned that the issue will go to the back burner. She believes that the healing process can not truly begin until the probe is complete. Source: WWLTV: NAACP: Speed up Alton Sterling investigation
