Community tensions run high between specific groups such as the African-American communities and the police departments in particular states. This has been the case more so in Louisiana and Texas over the past few days.
37-year-old Alton Sterling was outside a shop one day when he was gunned down after allegedly attempting to attack two police officers. On Tuesday reports that the Department of Justice under the guidance of US Attorney General Jeff Sessions would not be prosecuting the officers involved sparked angry protests in the Baton Rouge region. The area is where Sterling had been shot.
A video leaked to the media after the incident took place showed that a man dressed in red, who was later identified as Sterling, was outside a shop. It was not clear what Sterling was doing at the time. In a statement released by the local authorities, the officers who had been involved in the incidence said that they had reported to calls alleging that a suspect was harassing civilians with a gun.
On arrival at the scene, the two officers tackled Sterling to the ground. One of the uniformed men held down Sterling’s arm with his knee. The policeman then proceeded to shoot Sterling, at least that is what is supposed. In reality, the video shows only that the officer removed his gun from his holster before shots were heard and the camera hit the ground.
Local reports state that Sterling died instantaneously. Louisiana Governor John Edwards called for a federal investigation of the ‘disturbing’ incident. Meanwhile, residents protested the shooting near the shop where Sterling was killed. The police arrested about two hundred people who took part in it. A vigil was even scheduled for Tuesday night, held mere blocks from the Louisiana Police Department headquarters. The already unpredictable atmosphere was further charged by the speculation that the police officers would not be charged. The reason given for the verdict was that “Sterling had failed to comply with officers’ demands and was reaching for a weapon when he was shot.”
At the same time in the State of Texas, the death of a fifteen-year-old African-American boy at the hands of the police was taking place. Jordan Edwards sustained a head injury after he was shot while in a car with his sixteen-year-old brother. Edwards died from his injuries, leaving his shooter to account for his death. That night Jordan’s brother was detained and held in the police station. Officers claimed that they wanted to question him regarding the incident but the Edwards’ family lawyer was skeptical. He thought they wanted to get the boy to change his statement. Jordan’s brother was later released, and the department announced that the officer who had shot the teenager would be relieved of duty.
These two are just a few incidences when police officers have had to defend their actions. In some cases, they turn out to be innocent while in others they do not. The spike in police shootings needs to be addressed to maintain community peace.
