Is DC the Next Ground Zero for Black Lives Matter?

WASHINGTON, DC — The police shooting of an unarmed black man in D.C. in the early morning hours of Sept. 11 has already gotten San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to weigh in. But will it become the next focal point of the anti-police brutality movement Black Lives Matter?

Local activists are already furious about the shooting, which left 31-year-old Terrence Sterling dead after police say he tried to ram a police car with his motorcycle while trying to flee near New York Avenue in Northwest. Critics say that Sterling merely bumped the patrol car while trying to flee, and in any event he did not present an immediate threat to the officer.

Alarming reports have emerged since then, including that the incident was not captured on the officer's body camera because he did not turn it on until after firing shots, and another report Wednesday from Fox 5 indicated that the two officers involved in the shooting were told by officials over the radio to break off the pursuit because he was merely suspected in a traffic violation.

Sterling had been seen riding his bike erratically near 17th and U Streets in Adams Morgan earlier.

The Twitter account for Black Lives Matter D.C. is seeking to hold a candlelight vigil on Friday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. for Sterling on the corner of 3rd and M Street NW, where he was shot.

The #TerrenceSterling hashtag has blown up on Twitter, with hundreds of people chiming in to criticize the actions of the Metropolitan Police Department.

The Metropolitan Police Department says there is not yet an update in the investigation.

Shot by DC police. May the family of #TerranceSterling receive justice. Nothing this unarmed Black man did should result in his death.
— erudite. ? (@CashhhMani) September 14, 2016

.@DCPoliceDept murdered #TerrenceSterling don't let them keep changing their story. DEMAND JUSTICE, NOW! ??? pic.twitter.com/0LQg7AeDnG
— BlackLivesMatter DC (@DMVBlackLives) September 14, 2016

#TerrenceSterling

DC police admit they shot & killed an unarmed Black man.

The officer WAS wearing a body camera but did NOT turn it on.
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) September 12, 2016

This is almost daily news. Fleeing from police should not be a death sentence. #doyourjob #terrencesterling
— Faith P. Hill, Esq. (@FaithPHillEsq) September 13, 2016

a troubling witness account of the fatal shooting of #TerrenceSterling on Sunday, plus video https://t.co/T2p1Ty2ozd pic.twitter.com/zVW138bu5O
— Andrew Giambrone (@AndrewGiambrone) September 13, 2016

Image via @shotsfiredbysir