La. Dem calls for federal investigation into Baton Rouge shooting

A Louisiana Democrat is calling for a Justice Department investigation into a police shooting in Baton Rouge on Tuesday.

{mosads}In a statement, Rep. Cedric Richmond called footage of the shooting of 37-year-old Alton Sterling “deeply troubling” and expressed sympathy for protesters who gathered after the killing.

“There are a number of unanswered questions surrounding Mr. Sterling’s death,” Richmond said in the statement. “Including questions about the initial calls for police presence, the level of force used by officers, the verbal and physical altercation, and the response of the officers after he was shot. I call on the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a full and transparent investigation into this incident. 

“The cause of justice requires state and local law enforcement to join in this request as soon as possible.”

Cellphone video appears to show two police officers shooting Sterling multiple times after pinning him to the ground. One witness said that Sterling had a gun in his possession, though police officials have not confirmed it.

About 100 protestors gathered near the convenience store where Sterling was killed, carrying signs and chanting “black lives matter.”

“I ask the leaders and citizens of Baton Rouge to join me in demonstrating our anger with dignity and demanding proper focus on our cause with perseverance,” Richmond said in the statement. “His family and the citizens of Baton Rouge–especially the citizens of North Baton Rouge–deserve answers and that is what we will seek in a fair, thorough, and transparent way.”