Alton Sterling — Final Photos As Victim Of Police Shooting Laid To Rest

Alton Sterling was laid to rest at Southern University on July 15, 2016, in Baton Rouge, La. — after he was shot by a police officer while resisting arrest at the local Triple S Food Mart on July 5. The encounter — caught on video — would lead to public protests claiming that the cops had used unnecessary lethal force, wit the Department of Justice opening an investigation.

Alton was usually found outside of the Triple S Food Mart selling bootleg CDs. Police were called to the scene after a homeless man reported that Alton had shown a gun and threatened him. When the officers arrived, a scuffle ensued — and the footage showed a policeman shooting Alton as his partner declared that he had a gun.

Alton had previously been arrested with a gun near the same location on May 29, 2009. He was a registered sex offender, and had other arrests for aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, unauthorized entry, and domestic abuse battery.

Friends, families, and strangers gathered to mourn Alton before his casket was taken to the Mount Pilgrim Benevolent Society Cemetery.

Sadly, the funeral would be a calm before the storm — with three Baton Rouge police officers killed by Gavin Long two days later, after the former Marine and black separatist had declared on social media: "If I would have been there with Alton — clap."