Alton Sterling’s Family Agrees To $4.5M Settlement

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The family of Alton Sterling, a Black man who was shot and killed by a white police officer outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge, La., has reached a $4.5 million settlement with the city, nearly five years after his death.

Mr. Sterling, 37, a father of five, was fatally shot on July 5, 2016, after two Baton Rouge police officers, Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II, responded to a report that a Black man who was selling CDs outside a convenience store had brandished a gun and threatened someone.

According to The Advocate who obtained court documents regarding the settlement, Sterling’s family moved to dismiss a wrongful death against the city in May, signaling that an agreement had been reached to accept the funds.

The settlement, which came after the family had filed a lawsuit against Baton Rouge and others, “will allow the city to heal and provide a pathway for Mr. Sterling’s children to be provided for financially,” the lawyers said

in a statement.

In February council members voted to approve the settlement amount after months of deadlock over the settlement amount.

As part of the settlement, his children will receive $1 million, followed by annual $875,000 payments over the next four years. The settlement money comes from the city’s Insurance Reserve Fund, which as of late January, contained roughly $17.7 million in available assets, according to U.S. News and World Report.

After the announcement, Baton Rouge Mayor Weston Broome tweeted:

Sterling’s death came just one day before the brutal murder of Philando Castile, who was fatally shot thousands of miles away by a Minnesota police officer.

Their deaths helped fuel the call of Black Lives Matter protests which began around the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012.

Aziah Kamari

Aziah Kamari Pless is a writer and content creator with 5+ years of experience in freelance writer, editor and PR roles. A graduate of Florida State University, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English: Editing, Writing and Media. She incorporates her interests in music, fashion, media and entertainment to create versatile and compelling content.