The Associated Press reports that an attorney for relatives of a black man who was fatally shot during a struggle with two white Baton Rouge police officers is urging Louisiana’s attorney general to “fight for justice” in the case.
The lawyer, Justin Bamberg, says 37-year-old Alton Sterling’s family is pleased that the Justice Department is investigating the July 5 shooting, but he adds that’s not enough.
Bamberg says the family wants an indictment in the case and hopes state Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office “one day” will get involved.
In a statement Monday, Landry said he won’t have access to details of the federal investigation of Sterling’s shooting until it’s completed and a decision has been made on potential federal charges.
Bamberg compared Sterling’s shooting to the fatal shooting of a 6-year-old boy last year by two deputy city marshals in Marksville. Bamberg noted that Landry’s predecessor obtained indictments in December against the two black deputies on second-degree murder charges in the death of Jeremy Mardis, who was white.
Sterling’s 15-year-old son Cameron also spoke to reporters this morning, urging protesters to act peacefully. The teen will meet President Barack Obama Thursday during a town hall on race, CBS News reports.Â
