Investigation, protests after US cop shoots man dead

  • 07/07/2016
Alton Sterling
Alton Sterling

The US Justice Department has ordered a civil rights investigation into the police shooting of Alton Sterling.

The 37-year-old was selling CDs outside a Louisiana convenience store, when he was shot four times point blank in the chest by one of the officers restraining him on the ground.

Amateur video recorded the killing and caused outrage online - now a second video has been released, offering a much closer look.

Owner of the convenience store Abdullah Muflahi recorded the video where Mr Sterling was killed.

"He was really confused. He didn't look like he knew what was going on," says Mr Muflahi.

"The first time they were pulling him down he was saying 'what did I do wrong? What's going on?'"

Mr Mufhali says that for more than a year, Mr Sterling sold CDs outside his store. He says at the time of his shooting, Sterling had a gun.

Within 24 hours of his death, protesters rallied at the scene of the shooting.

Louisiana's governor has called on the Justice Department to take over the investigation.

Quinyetta McMillan, the mother of Mr Sterling's son, spoke while her son wept next to her.

"As a mother, I have now been forced to raise a son who is gonna remember what happened to his father. I for one will not rest or not allow him to be swept in the dirt," said Ms McMillan.

CBS / Newshub.