Independent UK reports that Police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana capital, have been silent since  the man was shot dead on Tuesday morning during a confrontation with officers.

According to an eyewitness, the victim, who was selling CDs in front of the Triple S Food Mart, was armed, but did not attempt to reach for his weapon during the incident, describing the police officers as aggressive.

The owner of the foot mart was said to have told Baton Rouge Police that Sterling was not holding a gun but he saw the police officers pull out in from his pocket afterwards.

“They didn't have to shoot him,” Muflahi said. “They got a call saying that he had a gun. They could have handled it differently.”

The 48-second cell phone video, which was recorded by an eyewitness, shows Sterling being manhandled and later shot twice, and three more shots were heard afterwards.