Cops Shoot Alton Sterling on Video; Prompts Extreme Public Outrage
Baton Rouge police officers were struggling on the ground with Alton Sterling when an officer put a gun to Sterling’s chest and fired. A witness caught the event on video, and it has politicians, celebrities, and the public crying foul. The outcry had become so extreme, you can expect Black Lives Matter to start destroying innocent people’s property at any time now.
We hate to report on incidents before all of the facts are released, because we know first-hand that when the news media doesn’t have details then they just make up details to get ratings. However, we expect that the Alton Sterling shooting may become a major issue in the next few days and weeks, so we want you to be aware what is happening.
Initial details are scarce, but Baton Rouge Police reportedly responded to a call on Tuesday morning of a man carrying a gun and threatening people in front of a convenience store. It’s not clear what happened before the video started, but next thing we know, police officers are ordering Alton Sterling to the ground. When Sterling resists, officers tackle him. On the ground, one of the police officers calls out that Sterling has a gun. The second police officer unholsters his pistol and points it at Sterling’s chest, and tells him not to move. There’s more shouting and the police officer shoots Sterling.
We don’t have all of the details, so we are unable to give a definitive opinion at this time if the shooting was justified. However, while the news media paints a picture of Sterling as an innocent family man who was executed by the police for being black and selling CDs, the video actually seems to support officer’s actions.
First, you have to remember why the officers were there. Sterling allegedly was threatening people while armed with a gun. At the start of the video, the camera moves around so you miss what’s going on, but you can see the police officers backing away and one officer is pointing a weapon at Sterling.
Baton Rouge PD police officer points Taser at Alton Sterling
Moments later, we hear what sounds like a Taser air cartridge firing. Officers yell at Starling to get on the ground as the camera faces away from the action. Then, we hear what sounds like a second Taser cartridge firing. It’s not quite clear how we got here, but each officer likely attempted to fire their Taser at Sterling. Based off of this alone, we can presume that there was probable cause to arrest Sterling and that he was actively resisting, prompting officers to deploy their Tasers. In an example of just how high the Taser failure rate is, the Tasers appeared to have no effect.
Officer One then tackles Sterling, bringing him to the ground. Officer Two follows behind and they both get on top of Sterling. Sterling lands on his side, but is able to roll onto his back. We can presume that the officers were attempting to roll Sterling onto his stomach in order to handcuff Sterling. By rolling onto his back with two police officers on top of him, Sterling is clearly demonstrating that he is actively fighting the officer’s attempts to control him, and he’s doing so with some success.
Officer Two then calls out that Sterling has a gun. Both officers can be seen moving for their guns, but Officer One can be seen getting his gun out, pointing it at Sterling’s chest, and telling him not to move. There’s then some shouting (can anybody understand what is said?) and Sterling is shot.
There is apparently security camera and dash cam footage which has not been released yet. Both officers had body cameras, but they fell off in struggle.
Critics are accusing police of a cover-up due to the body cameras falling off. Even when body cameras don’t fall off, they rarely show any usable footage once officers are hands-on. It’s also a common occurrence for body cameras to fall off; one of the most common ways to attach body cameras is with a magnet.
More details are expected to be released soon on the Alton Sterling shooting, but we don’t immediately see anything to indicate that this wasn’t justified.
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Daryl
He had a gun….pointed it at an officer and got shot!!! I don’t see the problem……isnt that just common sense?!?!? I support the men and women in blue!!!
john
false gun was in his pocket when they shot him.
Carolyn Mozingo
It doesn’t matter if the gun is false, it’s a gun and there is no time to stop and examine it.
Nelly smith
You are an ass and also the police are assholes on the video did not show that he was pointing a gun at the police officers the two police officers on top of him you jackass f*** you and the police
Tom
I fail to see anything the officer did wrong. Perhaps we should start to hold parents accountable for not raising their kids properly. The police were called for a reason, he did no comply, he had a gun, or at least the officers perception was that he had a gun. That’s why his dumb ass got shot. Simply compliance would have saved him.
Bob
God Bless NYPD Fuck criminals
Fireman
I also suppirt men and women in blue but they are trianed professional s two cops. One. Perk should make for easy arrest shooting should bebonly when life threatened most. Bad shooting are because lack of inplementing trianing correctly God be with all. Involved
AH
not-compliant…taser didn’t have an effect…physical tactics were not working…dumb-ass pulled a gun on cops…he got shot. Seems very cut and dry to me…threaten a LEO with a gun…get buried!!!
Ken
How simple is it, black, white, yellow or brown to follow directions. If innocent, so what, get on the ground. If guilty, get on the ground. Live to defend yourself in court. If, you fight, argue, struggle and give reason for the use of force, with people who are trying to serve and protect, odds are it wont turn out well. I support the men and women in blue!
Mike
Was there in fact a gun involved. If so and there is some evidence. I will reserve judgement.
Mike
Black lives,matter will destroy property! Your credibility is shot. Pun intended.
Officer Blue
Yeah, because this hasn’t happened before: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/baltimore-unrest/mayor-stephanie-rawlings-blake-under-fire-giving-space-destroy-baltimore-n349656
Amber
It sounded like the officer said, “hey bro, you “f” with me, I swear to god.” If so, then yes this could be bad. I mean if the man had a gun remove it slide it away and handcuff the dude. If two grown ass trained men can’t take down 1 man then the state needs to train cops better in defense.
Tyrone
Why don’t you and a friend try to take down a guy that size let’s see how u do. And show cops how’s it done. If you never faught a person that big then your opinion is not worth crap.
Brendan Doran
Just one question: Is Baton Rouge PD under DOJ supervision?
From what I can gather from Google it’s not.
Tia Martin
The big guy is huge they used two tasers on him he had a gun, what would you judgemental people that werent there do? You would shoot and run! Liberal idiots
Rev.
So far it looks like a bad shoot… No gun found… Shot in the back of the head… Two cops on his back… Cops making threats… i’m a L. E. O. and this looks bad
Officer Blue
I’m not sure that you saw the same video I did, where there’s an armed man who is resisting and the cops weren’t on his back. Sterling’s friend witnessed it and said that he had a gun: http://teakaymedia.wpengine.com/alton-sterling-criminal-history-gang-member/
Open Minded
There’s then some shouting (can anybody understand what is said?) and Sterling is shot.
Sounds like “Hey bro, don’t fuck with me, I’m doin my job” followed by Sterling (presumably) “You fucked with me!” and the first gunshot.
Officer Blue
Officer One clearly said, “Hey bro, you F’ing move, I swear to God.” It’s the next part that’s not clear.
pam
I lived in Baton Rouge for 7 years and worked in the ER at the Baton Rouge General Medical Center. A gun was pulled on an ER Dr which resulted in the entrances hospital or waiting room being locked down where only people with access codes could enter. Baton Rouge City Officers was our security inside the ER which I’m pleased to say we were greatful and pleased with their actions on our behalf. One night gang violence occurred. Resulted with gunshot victims in the ER. Others followed them out in the waiting room gun fire rang out. We were fortunate that the waiting room wasn’t full and any staff had left the desk to bring paperwork into the ER. So I have much respect for the Baton Rouge City Officers who put their lives on the line daily in their line of duty. This incident happened in or around 1998 or 1999 if anyone cares to research it. If people are going to video something they should stay with the action instead of convinently losing everything but the end result. That’s my opinion or stay out of it.
John
Officer then says, “OMG, he is going for his gun!” In newer video, it is easier to hear this. Completely justified.
Manuel
I have seen, a young person 14-17 struggling/fighting with 4-6 firefighters over some confusion of treatment for a family member…so to say that two cops should have handle, this adult easily is NOT true…you never know, how strong a person in a desperate situation can be… until you are there dealing with it….