BATON ROUGE, La., July 6 (UPI) -- A second video has emerged in the shooting death of 37-year-old Alton Sterling, who was fatally shot dead as he was pinned to the ground by officers. The Justice Department announced it's investigating the case.
The FBI and Louisiana State Police will also be involved in the investigation. The Justice Department's civil rights division will handle the probe "impartially, professionally and thoroughly," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday.
"I have very serious concerns. The video is disturbing to say the least," Edwards said.
Hundreds of protesters shouting "black lives matter" gathered in Baton Rogue, La., on Tuesday, outraged over the fatal police shooting of Sterling.
East Baton Rouge Coroner Dr. William Clark said Sterling, a father of five, died early Tuesday in the parking lot of a Triple S Food Mart from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and back. A graphic cellphone video of the incident was posted online.
The Baton Rouge Police Department said officers responded to an anonymous call shortly after midnight on Tuesday about a black man in a red T-shirt who threatened the caller with a gun. Police said officers "made contact" and "Sterling was shot during the altercation and died at the scene." Two officers have been placed on administrative leave and an investigation was launched.
In the video, two officers are seen confronting a man in a red T-shirt -- presumably Sterling. One of the officers shouted "get on the ground" before an officer appears to tackle the man, throwing him on the hood of the car and then the ground. The second officer helps hold him down.
"He's got a gun! Gun!" one officer seemingly shouts. While the man is pinned to the ground, an officer appears to pull out his gun and hold it to the man's head or neck as shouting ensues. Two loud sounds, presumably gunshots, are heard as the camera pans away. At least two more loud sounds are heard in the footage.
Protesters gathered outside of the Triple S Food Mart where the shooting occurred, chanting "black lives matter" and holding up signs that read "honk for justice."
"The video footage released today of the shooting of Alton Sterling ... was deeply troubling and has understandably evoked strong emotion and anger in our community," U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond, D-La., said in a statement. "I share in this anger and join the community in the pursuit of justice."
New video of the incident shot by the store owner came to light late Wednesday, The Daily Beast reported. Provided by convenience store owner Abdul Muflahi, the new video does not appear to corroborate claims that Sterling tried to pull a gun on the officers. Seconds after Sterling is shot, the video shows an officer remove an object from Sterling's right pants pocket.
