Officer who killed Alton Sterling fired, new videos released

The police officer who shot and killed Alton Sterling, Blane Salamoni, was fired by Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul on Friday. Another officer present during Sterling's death, Howie Lake II, was given a three-day suspension for losing his temper in the altercation with Sterling.

Chief Paul insisted, "My decision was not based on politics. It was not based on emotions. It was based on the facts of the case."

On Tuesday, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced that no charges would be filed against either officer in relation to the incident.

Since the 2016 shooting, both officers have been on paid leave. During the department's separate disciplinary hearings, Officer Salamoni refused to answer any questions (following the advice of his attorney), but Officer Lake responded to each question asked of him.

While two cell phone videos documenting Sterling's death were circulated directly after the incident, another four clips from surveillance and body cameras were released by authorities on Friday. In the footage prior to the shooting, someone yells "he's got a gun."

Sandra Sterling, who raised Alton, told reporters, "When you see those other...videos of Blane Salamoni killing Alton Sterling, you'll cry again. And when you cry again, you'll be telling the Sterling family, 'I'm sorry.'"

Alton Sterling was first confronted by the officers on the day of his death after they received a call from a convenience store owner that an individual was selling CD's out in front of the shop and had pointed a gun at someone. Sterling was the suspect.

But when police arrived, Sterling appeared confused as to why they were approaching. An altercation took place, resulting in Officer Salamoni shooting Sterling six times. Sterling did, in fact, have a gun in his pocket, and toxicology results from the autopsy show Sterling had "cocaine, methamphetamine, hydrocodone, a marijuana ingredient, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in his blood," according to CNN.

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by Sterling's five children, with defendants including the Baton Rouge police department and the city itself.