A warrant from police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has revealed that officers claimed they observed the butt of a gun in the front pocket of Alton Sterling's pants before shooting him to death.
Officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake said they saw Sterling reach for the gun before opening fire, according to the affidavit that a Baton Rouge detective filed for a search warrant in the case.
The warrant gives the first few details of what police say happened leading up to the shooting of Sterling, 37, on July 5.
'While the officers were attempting to subdue the subject the officers observed the butt of a gun,' the affidavit says.
It goes on to say when they saw him attempt to reach for the gun, one officer fired, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The officer who shot Sterling has not been specified.
Baton Rogue investigators and 'the officers feel they were completely justified', East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore said during a news conference last week.
Moore has since recused himself from the case because he said he has a friendship with one of the Salamoni's parents.
Authorities have not discussed what occurred that night, saying they cannot speak about ongoing investigations.
The affidavit does not explain what was discussed between Sterling and officers Salamoni and Lake prior to the shooting.
It says homicide investigators asked for the warrant, then retrieved surveillance video from the Triple S Mart, where the shooting occurred, a few hours later.
Police say they have dashcam footage, body cam footage and store surveillance footage that will be turned over to the Justice Department, CBS News reported.
Officials say Salamoni and Lake were responding to a complaint that a black male was outside the Triple S Mart and had threatened someone with a gun. When Sterling didn't comply with the order to 'place his hands on the hood of a vehicle' the officers attempted to restrain him and then used a taser, the affidavit says
As Sterling lies on the ground with blood seeping from his chest, one of the officers leans over and grabs what appears to be a gun from the street seller's pocket
Officials say Salamoni and Lake were responding to a complaint that a black male was outside the Triple S Mart and had threatened someone with a gun.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3685764/Officers-saw-butt-gun-Alton-Sterling-s-pocket-trying-restrain-saw-reach-warrant-says.html
