DOJ to investigate Louisiana police shooting

by TheHill.com - 07/06/16 11:31 AM ET

The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) civil rights division will investigate a fatal police-involved shooting in Baton Rouge, La., the state’s governor announced Wednesday.

The DOJ’s civil rights division will be the lead agency in investigating the shooting of Alton Sterling, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced at a press conference.

{mosads}Edwards said the U.S. attorney’s office, the FBI and state police will also be involved.

A graphic video shows the deadly encounter outside a convenience store when two officers pinned down Sterling, a 37-year-old black man. Police shot Sterling as he laid on the ground. Video of the incident shared online went viral and sparked national attention and local protests.

The governor said he spoke to Sterling’s family on Wednesday to express condolences and had spoken with other leaders, including White House officials.

“I have full confidence that this matter will be investigated thoroughly, impartially and professionally,” he said.

The governor said he had “very serious concerns” based on initial information.

“The video is disturbing, to say the least,” he added.

Edwards called for calm as details continue to emerge in the case.

Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), who had called for a Justice Department investigation into the Tuesday shooting, said he was pleased by the announcement.

Richmond welcomed the decision to bring in federal investigators, saying on CNN that it will help ensure that “nothing is going to be swept under the rug.” He indicated he spoke Tuesday night with Edwards, among others.

“There is a very deep reservation in the community that justice will ever be served. And part of what we have to do is make sure that everything is investigated thoroughly,” he said on CNN.

Richmond said he wanted to see footage from the incident, including from the convenience store, dash cam footage from the police car and any available material from police body cameras.

This report was updated at 11:54 a.m.