Three Baton Rouge Police officers have reportedly been placed on administrative leave while the department investigates an incident involving a Black LSU football player who claims he was "violated" on Saturday night.
Chief Murphy Paul confirmed the officers were placed on leave in relation to claims made by freshman wide receiver Koy Moore on social media in a statement obtained by ESPN on Monday.
"We appreciate Mr. Moore bringing this incident to our attention," Paul said. "As in every case, we will be collecting all available evidence and conducting interviews. Accountability and transparency are critical in building trust with the community. I pledge a thorough investigation into this complaint."
On Sunday, Moore shared a post on his Twitter account claiming he was stopped by police who assumed he had a gun and drugs.
"I was violated numerous times even as going as far as trying to unzip my pants in search of a weapon that I repeatedly told them I did not have," the statement read.
Moore said he attempted to record the interaction, but claims his phone was "snatched from him."
"As some celebrate the election of a new president understand the real problem have not changed," Moore wrote. "If I didn't tell those incompetent officers that I was a LSU football player there's no telling if I would've been here to tell the story! Yesterday wasn't a victory for America it was only a distraction."
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron addressed the situation in an official statement shared on his Twitter account Sunday night, confirming he was aware of Moore's statements and that the university and Baton Rogue Police Department were investigating the alleged incident.
Orgeron provided additional comments on the situation during his weekly Zoom press conference on Monday.
“I met with Koy and his mom this morning to find out what was going on. His brother was also involved,” Orgeron said via WAFB. “In my statement I sent out last night I said there’s no place in America for racism.”
LSU athletic director Scott Woodward also released a statement on Sunday via LSU athletics' official website:
"The safety and well-being of our student-athletes is our most important responsibility, and the details described by Koy Moore of his encounter with Baton Rouge Police on Saturday night are very troubling. We have engaged with Koy and his family, and the appropriate LSU officials are working with BRPD to help gather all of the facts of the incident. We have full faith BRPD will conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter. We will continue to dedicate every available resource to supporting Koy and all other LSU student-athletes who are understandably upset. Black Americans should never be treated unjustly by law enforcement, and we will continue to do our part to help change systemic racism in America."
The freshman's mother, Shone Woods, also issued a statement on social media regarding the alleged incident involving her son.
"One of my worst fears as a Mother, I always pray and ask GOD to cover my kids, in his blood Thank You Father from covering my child @asap_koy last night from these devils @BRPD," Woods tweeted. "This is what we mean when we say #BlackLivesMatter all because of his skin color (single tear emoji) it's a SAD day (angry emoji)."
Earlier this year, several LSU football players participated in a peaceful social justice protest through campus, telling the Advocate they were inspired by professional athletes who chose to protest following an incident in which a Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot multiple times in the back by a White police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin last week.
Orgeron said he "fully supported" his football team's recent social justice protest and wanted to have "more open dialogue" on similar issues moving forward.