Shocking new video of police killing Alton Sterling sparks protests, outrage

Still images from video show Alton Sterling as he is shot dead by police during an incident captured on the mobile phone camera of shop owner Abdullah Muflahi in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. July 5, 2016. Video taken July 5, 2016. - Pic by Abdullah Muflahi

The shocking and graphic video of Baton Rouge police officers killing African-American Alton Sterling has sparked outrage across the country and protests in the streets of Louisiana’s capital.

Warning: Graphic video

Sterling was shot dead while pinned to the ground by police. Officers say they were called to a convenience store after an anonymous caller claimed a man selling CDs had threatened him with a gun.

The store’s owner Abdul Muflahi told local station WAFB Sterling was tased by one officer and tackled by another before he was shot “four to six times.”

Muflahi said Sterling was not holding a gun at the time, but that he saw officers remove a gun from his pocket after he was shot.

The 37-year-old man was dead before paramedics arrived at the scene.

The Department of Justice civil rights division will take lead of the investigation, according to Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.

“I have very serious concerns. The video is very disturbing to say the least,” he said. The governor said that he doesn't know the race of the officers. “I think the video speaks for itself as to the race of the two officers,” he said.

Protesters took to the streets of Baton Rouge last night chanting “Black Lives Matter” and “No justice, no peace.” Speaking to The Advocate, one protester said he came out because he felt frustrated, saying "Once it starts hitting where you live, you start feeling the fear."

Twitter and Facebook was also flooded with grief and anger including Anonymous and prominent black artists who have been outspoken on the issue of police violence.