TORONTO – Drake has spoken out against the killing of Alton Sterling by police in Louisiana, saying it points to a larger problem.

The Toronto-born rapper posted on Instagram that he was “disheartened, emotional and truly scared” after hearing about the shooting of the 37-year-old black American.

The violence outside a Baton Rouge convenience store late Tuesday was captured in two amateur videos posted online, which quickly went viral. One of the videos directly shows a tussle between officers and Sterling before he is shot in the chest.

The “Hotline Bling” singer, whose father is from Memphis, Tenn., says he considers the United States his second home. He says he felt the need to say something after hearing about the incident.

“It’s impossible to ignore that the relationship between black and brown communities and law enforcement remains as strained as it was decades ago,” he wrote in the signed letter.

“This is real and I’m concerned. Concerned for the safety of my family, my friends, and any human being that could fall victim to this pattern.”

The U.S. Justice Department has launched a civil rights investigation into the incident.

Sterling’s killing and Drake’s response came before another black American was fatally shot on Wednesday by police in Minnesota. Philando Castile died after an officer shot him during a traffic stop.

The immediate aftermath of the shooting of Castile was captured by his girlfriend in a Facebook Live video, which was then shared by users across the social media platform.

Drake’s post on Instagram was just one of many from celebrities who took to social media to express their dismay over further shootings against black men.

“I do not know the answer. But I believe things can change for the better. Open and honest dialogue is the first step,” Drake added.

Fellow Canadian the Weeknd used Twitter as an outlet to express his outrage over the incidents.

“Enough is enough,” he tweeted. “It’s time to stand up for this. We can either sit and watch, or do something about it. The time is now.”

Follow @dfriend on Twitter.