(AllHipHop News) The country is once again facing another high-profile killing of an African-American at the hands of a police officer. Footage of 37-year-old Alton Sterling being shot by a Baton Rouge, Louisiana cop is making its way around the internet, and the incident has become the #1 trending topic on Twitter.
Many people are upset because video shows a uniformed officer shooting Sterling as he was pinned to the ground. A voice can be heard saying, “He’s got a gun,” before the shots are fired.
Everyday White Cops Killin Beautiful Black People??? #AltonSterling??pic.twitter.com/abaqGp0pet
— CHEAZY MACK (@CheazyMack) July 6, 2016
Besides the video shot by a witness, there is also reportedly surveillance video from the convenience store and dash camera video from police vehicles. The officers were said to be wearing body cameras, but they supposedly fell off and did not capture the incident.
According to police officials, the cops were responding to a complaint about a man selling CDs threatening someone with a gun. However, Abdullah Muflahi, owner of the convenience store where Sterling was shot, reportedly stated he did not see any confrontation involving Sterling that evening.
“Just five minutes before,” said Muflahi. “He walked into the store getting something to drink, joking around, [and we were] calling each other names.”
Abdullah Muflahi, owner of store where Alton Sterling killed in BR, describes seeing shooting by officer pic.twitter.com/08ABnQwr6a
— Maya Lau (@mayalau) July 5, 2016
Another video: Abdullah Muflahi, owner of Triple S store, says officer killed his friend, Alton Sterling pic.twitter.com/xRDeNOBCSA
— Maya Lau (@mayalau) July 5, 2016
Two officers have been placed on administrative leave as an investigation into the situation is conducted.
Meanwhile, celebrities and activists have taken to Twitter to respond to the killing of Alton Sterling. Read some of the tweets below.
The shooting of #AltonSterling in #BatonRouge is a legal lynching. Justice must prevail. #Outraged
— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) July 6, 2016
These f###### pigs murdered #AltonSterling in cold blood. Shot him in his face. VIDEO https://t.co/D0G6h0BIdH
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 6, 2016
Somebody is going to say “#AltonSterling should not have been selling CD’s in front of a store.” Somebody should get punched in the face.
— CHUCK JIGSAW CREEKMUR (@chuckcreekmur) July 6, 2016
How many more times must this happen for us to matter? How many more must we lose?
BLACK. LIVES. MATTER. #AltonSterling— Zendaya (@Zendaya) July 6, 2016
Police are in place to keep you in line aka safe.
They aren’t there to protect you only the property that belongs to the owner.
— Chase N. Cashe (@ChaseNCashe) July 6, 2016
Eric got killed for selling cigarettes, now Alton killed for CD’s. Child molesters remain unscathed after apprehension.
— DADITO CALDERONE (@TAXSTONE) July 6, 2016
Another shattered family. Lord bless them. Protect them. #AltonSterling pic.twitter.com/XXPdC9y8bU
— Lecrae (@lecrae) July 6, 2016
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) July 6, 2016
You know, that’s what gets me when I see these videos these days. It’s the ease w/ which we are killed that gets me. #AltonSterling
— deray mckesson (@deray) July 6, 2016
That moment when you see another video of a black brother executed by the police #StayWoke #AltonSterling ✊?
— THE LOVE KING (@Raheem_DeVaughn) July 6, 2016
IF anything THIS proves why the term #BlackLivesMatter is the CRYOUT to the rest of the Planet Earth from this United States Of America.
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 6, 2016
This is domestic terrorism. We should be more infuriated by what we do to each other as Americans than we are about foreign threats.
— Bridget Kelly (@IamBridgetKelly) July 6, 2016
It’s a scary time to be a black man/boy in America.
— Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) July 6, 2016
Said it once and I’ll say it a million times. As a black American I fear the police way more than Isis.
— Charlamagne Tha God (@cthagod) July 6, 2016
How did someone report that he had a gun in a state where u can openly carry a weapon??
— El Viejo Ebro (@oldmanebro) July 6, 2016
Yo he had 5 kids… #AltonSterling
— Consequence (@ItsTheCons) July 6, 2016
RIP #altonsterling I am speechless. God help us all. ?
— !llmind (@illmindPRODUCER) July 6, 2016
558 ppl killed by police in 2016….but Zika is an epidemic? I’ll worry about Mosquitos when they get a badge! #AltonSterling #TeamDl
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) July 6, 2016
rip #AltonSterling …this shatters my heart into a million pieces
— chloe x halle (@chloeandhalle) July 6, 2016
Foreal though wth?!? The #AltonSterling video makes me sick…its gettin out of control!! #blacklivesmatter #thisworldneedsprayer
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 6, 2016
hard for me to say too much here, as i just don’t have it in me to watch someone else get shot. https://t.co/77ppqPHlzR
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) July 6, 2016