A former employer of 37-year-old Alton Sterling is speaking up on behalf of the man shot and killed by Baton Rouge Police Officers. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Emelie Gunn has the latest on the investigation into the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A former employer of 37-year-old Alton Sterling is speaking up on behalf of the man who was shot and killed by Baton Rouge Police Officers. Brandon Boutin hired Sterling to be a line cook at a local Baton Rouge restaurant. He says despite Sterling’s criminal past, he was working hard to straighten out his life and make sure everything was on the up and up…:

CUT 3 (10)  “grown up”

Records show Sterling had a criminal background, and had previously been arrested for offenses including aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, drug possession, carrying an illegal weapon and carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Boutin said Sterling was known as the “CD man,” and that it wasn’t unusual to see him outside the store where he died trying to make a living…:

CUT 4 (08)  “for a long time”

Boutin said he employed several members of the Sterling family and they were all hard working, good people. He feels Sterling was likely asking the officers why they were confronting him because he wasn’t doing anything wrong:

CUT 5 (11)  “both sides”

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Governor John Bel Edwards meets this afternoon with the U.S. Attorneys, FBI, and State Police in regards to the fatal police shooting of 37-year-old Alton Sterling. Deputy Chief of Staff for the governor, Julie Baxter Payer, says Edwards’ goal is to have a full and thorough investigation and maximum transparency, which hopefully will put the public at ease.

CUT 6 (10) “to justice”

The governor is also expected to attend a prayer vigil in Baton Rouge tonight at the Living Faith Christian Center. Baxter Payer says the U.S. Department of Justice is taking the lead on this investigation to ensure transparency with the public, not because BRPD couldn’t do a thorough investigation.

CUT 7 (10) “be conducted”

Baxter Payer says Governor Edwards will discuss with these federal agencies how to ensure the investigation is detailed and accurate.

CUT 8 (09) “is done”

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The religious organization, Together Baton Rouge, believes the federal investigation into the fatal police shooting of 37-year-old Alton Sterling’s should not just examine whether the shooting was justified. Rev. Lee Wesley says there are a range of other potential criminal charges that need to be investigated like false arrested, aggravated battery, assault with a deadly weapon, and second degree murder.

CUT 9 (07) “as well”

Wesley says it’s not always easy to convict on a civil rights violation because it’s hard to prove. He says they want to make sure all the information is discovered about the shooting.

cut 10 (08)  “findings are”

Wesley hopes that if any federal or local laws have been violated, the US Department of Justice will recommend charges against the officers…

Cut 11 (08) “appropriate action”

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Was the shooting of Alton Sterling justified? That’s the question many are asking. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says he was present when members of the Baton Rouge Police Department began interviewing the two officers involved…

cut 12 (05) “they took”

The officers, Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake are on paid leave. Two cell phone videos of the shooting have been circulating on the internet and the aunt of Alton Sterling, Sandra Sterling is very disturbed by the latest video…

Cut 13 (11)  “I’m mad”

Both videos shows the officers on top of Sterling, when one of them pulls out a gun and points it at Sterling as he continues to struggle with police. That’s when multiple shots are fired into Sterling’s chest. Sandra Sterling is is mad over the loss of her nephew…

cut 14 (08)  “get back”

Governor John Bel Edwards has a meeting scheduled for this afternoon with members of the US Attorney’s office, FBI and state police as the investigation into Alton Sterling’s death continues. Former US Attorney Harry Rosenberg on what takes place when federal government investigates an officer-involved shooting to see if the victim’s civil rights were violated…
cut 4 (11) “….their discretion”
Executive Director of the Louisiana ACLU, Marjorie Esman, says there are too many unknowns in the incident…
cut 7 (07) “…the ground”
Baton Rouge police say Sterling was armed when they encountered him. A second cell phone video of the shooting, shows one of the officers taking what appears to be a gun from his pocket after Sterling was shot.

The funeral is today for Sterlington Police Sergeant David Elahi (eh-lah-hee) who was killed over the fourth of July weekend when a suspected drunk driver plowed into him as he was working a traffic stop. Reverend Chad Brooks will officiate the funeral service and says Elahi loved to help people, which he did not only as a police officer, but through his other endeavors, including an inflatable jumper company he owned…
cut 11 (12) “…for the people”
Elahi leaves behind a two-year-old child and fiance who is expecting a child in January.

The Lafayette School Board will not change its Pledge of Allegiance policy despite an advocacy group’s request to change the policy after a student was allegedly mistreated at Acadiana High for not stand during the pledge. Students in Lafayette will continue to stand during the pledge, but do not have to recite it because of religious beliefs.

It has been an emotional day in Baton Rouge as state officials, police officers and groups try to cope with the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alton Sterling, who was shot multiple times after struggling with two white police officers. Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie says they are like every one else as they have a lot of questions when it comes to this shooting…
cut 11 (11) “….accountable”
Some have been calling for Dabadie’s resignation, but he says that won’t happen.

Governor Edwards has called on the US Department of Justice to lead an investigation into the shooting death of Sterling. Edwards says in the meantime, more violence is not needed….
cut 7 (10) “…torn apart”
Names of the officers have been released. They are Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake. Between the two of them they have seven years of experience.

During an emotional press conference, people cried out for justice. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

Former LSU basketball star Glen Davis has told TMZ-dot-com that Sterling was a great guy and had a big personality. Sterling was apparently selling CDs outside of a conveience store at the time of the shooting. Davis told TMZ that the CDs were how Sterling supported his family and he was not a guy to use violence at all.

Governor John Bel Edwards calls on federal agencies to investigate the fatal police shooting of 37-year-old Alton Sterling. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (25) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

Meanwhile, the leader of the Baton Rouge chapter of NAACP, says Sterling’s family deserves justice as these two police officers did not act in accordance with the law….
cut 3 (14) “…black”

During a press conference earlier this morning, Baton Rouge NAACP president Mike McClanahan called for Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie to resign as a result of the shooting of Alton Sterling. Dabadie says he has worked with McClanahan for the past few years on resolving problems like this, and he believes McClanahan was speaking out of emotion.
cut 10 (10) “…truth out”
Dabadie says they have turned audio and video evidence of the incident to the US Justice Department so they can conduct a “transparent, neutral investigation.”

Most of Louisiana is under a heat advisory today. Kent Kuyper with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says temperatures are in the mid to upper 90s this afternoon and we don’t see much of a cool down at night….
cut 12 (08) “…spilling in”

There’s heartbreak and frustration over the shooting death of Alton Sterling. Two white Baton Rouge police officers wrestled Sterling down to the ground and one of them fatally shot the 37-year-old black man outside of a convenience store early Tuesday morning.

His family calls Sterling a caring father, while the president of the Baton Rouge chapter of the NAACP, Mike Mclanahan, says someone should lose their job over Sterling’s death…
cut 4 (07) “….the guts”
Governor John Bel Edwards says federal agencies will oversee the investigation into the shooting….
cut 6 (11) “…the FBI”
Edwards says he’s troubled by the cell phone video that’s been released, which shows two officers on top of Sterling at the time of the shooting.

Louisiana has received a 60-million dollar grant that officials say will help alleviate traffic congestion in Lafayette and Baton Rouge. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 5 (30) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

The heat is on again in Louisiana. Kent Kuyper, with the National Weather Service, says rain is what usually cools us off in the summer. He says unfortunately, there is very little chance for precipitation over the next few days…
cut 13 (07) “…next week”

Governor John Bel Edwards says the US Justice Department will lead the investigation into the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling. He’s the 37-year-old black man who was killed after two white Baton Rouge police officers were called to the area to look for a man with a gun. Edwards called the shooting tragic…
cut 8 (07) “…to say the least”
Edwards is asking faith-based community leaders and elected officials to work together to keep the peace.

Meanwhile, Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie says they have a lot of questions themselves when it comes to this shooting…
cut 11 (11) “….accountable”
There have been calls for Dabadie to step down in the wake of this shooting, but he says that won’t happen.

During an emotional press conference this morning, people cried out for justice following the fatal police shooting of 37-year-old Alton Sterling. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Halen Doughty”