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…
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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…:
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…:
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:
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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.
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.
Baxter Payer says Governor Edwards will discuss with these federal agencies how to ensure the investigation is detailed and accurate.
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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.
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.
Wesley hopes that if any federal or local laws have been violated, the US Department of Justice will recommend charges against the officers…
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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…
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…
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…