A Black man was shot dead by police officers on Tuesday outside a supermarket in Baton Rouge, the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana, local press reported.
RELATED:
Trial Begins for Highest Ranking Police Officer in Freddie Gray Case
Alton Sterling was shot multiple times in the chest and back while he was on the ground, a video released online shows.
In the clip, an officer can be heard yelling “get on the ground,” and then the officer is seen charging at Sterling, grabbing him and tackling him onto the pavement.
Although the police department has not revealed yet if Sterling was armed, in the video one of the officers yells, “He’s got a gun!” The officer seen in the video then yells, “if you fucking move, I swear to God!”
Five shots can then be heard but not seen because the bystander dropped the cell phone when they heard the shots.
Body cameras worn by the two officers both fell off and do not show the shooting, according Louisiana State Representative Denise Marcelle, according to local news channel WAFB. It is not clear how Marcelle would be in a position to know and release that information.
WARNING: This video contains images that that could be considered offensive or disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
U.S. police have faced increasing criticism following the killings of unarmed civilians, primarily people of color such as Michael Brown, a Black teen who was fatally shot by officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri.
The issue has sparked nationwide protests, as well as a fierce debate over racism in policing. According to human rights activists and organizations, Black people in the U.S. are far more likely to be shot at, arrested and imprisoned by police than any other demographic group.