From [HERE] The children of a black man gunned down by a white police officer in Louisiana's capital sued the city on Tuesday, claiming the shooting fit a pattern of racist behavior and excessive force by its police department.

Attorneys for Alton Sterling's five children filed the wrongful death lawsuit in state court against the city of Baton Rouge, its police department and police chief and the two officers involved in last summer's deadly encounter. Officer Blane Salamoni shot Sterling six times during a struggle outside a convenience store where the 37-year-old black man was selling homemade CDs.

On July 5, 2016, Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, was shot several times at close range while held down on the ground by two white Baton Rouge Police Department officers, Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.^[3] Police were responding to a report that a man in a red shirt was selling CDs, and that he had used a gun to threaten a man outside a convenience store.^[4] The shooting was recorded by multiple bystanders. A loaded .38 caliber revolver was in Sterling's right front pocket, but it is unclear whether he reached for it

The Justice Department investigated Sterling's shooting and announced last month that it will not file charges against Salamoni or Officer Howie Lake II, who also wrestled Sterling to the ground but didn't fire his gun. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry's office has opened its own review of the case to determine if any state criminal charges are warranted.

The family's lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, claims Sterling's shooting was the product of poor training and inadequate police procedures. The suit also cites two instances in which Baton Rouge police officers allegedly sent racist text messages to colleagues, including an apparent slur against people who protested Sterling's death.

"The City of Baton Rouge has a long standing pervasive policy of tolerating racist behavior by some of its officers," the suit says. "There have also been multiple verbal racist comments by officers reported to the department. This tolerance of such behavior directly leads to the mistreatment of individuals of African American descent."

Plaintiffs' attorney L. Chris Stewart said he expects current and former police officers to come forward, testify under oath and back up "everything" alleged in the suit.

"This isn't just lawyers talking and arguing. We have talked to officers who have said something is wrong and it must stop," Stewart said.