The U.S. Justice Department will not pursue charges against two Caucasian police officers in the shooting of Alton Sterling, an African American man, last July in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Acting U.S. Attorney Corey Amundson announced on Wednesday, April 3rd, the court's decision stating there is insufficient evidence to bring charges against the officers who pinned Sterling to the ground and ended his life.  

Image Courtesy of U.S. Department of Justice

“Although Sterling’s death is tragic,” a press release issued on the incident states, “the evidence does not meet these substantial evidentiary requirements.”  The release goes on to state, “Although the videos do not show Sterling’s right hand at the time those shots were fired, they show that Sterling’s right hand was not under Officer Salamoni’s control. The evidence also cannot establish that Sterling was not reaching for a gun when Officer Salamoni yelled that Sterling was doing so. Given the totality of the circumstances—that the officers had been fighting with Sterling and had attempted less-than-lethal methods of control; that they knew Sterling had a weapon; that Sterling had reportedly brandished a gun at another person; and that Sterling was much larger and stronger than either officer—the Department cannot prove either that the shots were unconstitutional or that they were willful".The case marks the first under Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the department has publicly refused to press charges against officers for potential wrongdoing in such a high profile case.

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Justice Department will not charge Baton Rouge officers in fatal shooting of Alton SterlingJustice Department won't charge officers in fatal shooting of black man in Louisiana