One of the two white police officers involved in the in the 2016 fatal shooting of Alton Sterling has been fired following an excessive force investigation, BBC reports.
Baton Rouge police officer Blane Salamoni was terminated because he did not follow departmental policies when handling Sterling, Police Chief Murphy Paul said in an announcement. Instead, Salamoni resorted to deadly force, and called Sterling a number of profanities while he lay dying.
The second officer, Howie Lake, will be suspended for only three days because he appeared to be trying to deescalate the situation.
It was announced earlier this week that Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry declined to bring charges against Salamoni and Lake.
“After a thorough and exhaustive review of the evidence… the Louisiana Department of Justice cannot proceed with a prosecution,” Landry said in a press conference.
Sterling was shot six times outside of a convenience store in July 2016 after police were called and allegedly told a black man with a gun was acting threateningly.
Landry’s decision marked the end of all legal criminal proceedings as the Department of Justice also refused to charge Salamoni and Lake for violating Sterling’s civil rights.
A civil lawsuit filed by Sterling’s family continues.