No charges for cops
Louisiana’s attorney general decides not to charge two white police officers in the fatal shooting of a black man.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana’s attorney general ruled out charges Tuesday against two white Baton Rouge police officers in the fatal shooting of a black man during a struggle outside a convenience store nearly two years after his death caused widespread protests.
Attorney General Jeff Landry’s decision came nearly 11 months after the Justice Department ruled out federal criminal charges in Alton Sterling’s July 2016 death.
Officer Blane Salamoni shot and killed Sterling, 37, during a struggle outside a convenience store where the black man was selling homemade CDs. Officer Howie Lake helped wrestle Sterling to the ground, but Lake didn’t fire his gun. Two cellphone videos of the shooting spread on social media, leading to protests.
Landry made the announcement of no charges against the officers at a news conference after meeting with family members of Sterling.
Quinyetta McMillon, the mother of one of Sterling’s children, Cameron, said the officers killed Sterling “in cold blood.”
Landry said his office reviewed all of the evidence compiled by the Justice Department, including opinions issued by independent experts, and also conducted its own interviews of witnesses.
Citing a toxicology report, Landry also said Sterling had illegal drugs in his system at the time of the confrontation.
The officers’ body cameras and a store surveillance camera also recorded the encounter. Baton Rouge police Chief Murphy Paul said he intends to release both after he concludes the disciplinary process for the two officers involved.
Paul said he hopes to complete the disciplinary process by Friday.
Salamoni and Lake have remained on paid administrative leave since the July 5, 2016, shooting.