The shooting occurred at 4pm on Tuesday, a day after police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, released a video showing the shooting death of Terence Crutcher on Friday by one of their officers, adding to ongoing scrutiny of local police departments across the USA for the nearly routine killing of unarmed black people.
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Governor Pat McCory declared a state of emergency on Wednesday night and, speaking to CNN, while he said he understood the frustration of protesters, he said he would never respect violence.
Keith Lamont Scott was shot by police and the circumstances of his death are being investigated. The National Guard and State Troopers will be deployed to assist police – who have maintained a heavy presence throughout the night – in controlling the protests.
At the apartment complex where Scott was killed, some people who said they witnessed the shooting told their version with an air of certainty even when they were hundreds of yards away. “We all see this as a tragedy”, Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said earlier on Wednesday. CNN’s Ed Lavandera was attacked by a protester while he was reporting live Wednesday night. “I can also tell you we did not find a book”, Putney said.
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was treated and released after he was injured by shattered glass from his patrol auto during a violent protest in uptown Charlotte Wednesday night. They were trying to locate another man to serve a warrant, officials said.
Protestors spray “black lives matter” on the walls, cars, and shop windows.
The scene was in contrast to Tuesday’s protest, which turned violent with protesters threw rocks and damaged police vehicles.
Wednesday’s protest started as a downtown prayer vigil, but an angry group left the peaceful event and marched through downtown Charlotte. Protests erupted Tuesday after a woman, who appeared to be his daughter, posted a video on Facebook saying Scott was unarmed.
However, Putney added that he did not know whether Scott “definitively pointed the weapon specifically toward an officer”. Officials say it was a civilian who shot another civilian during the protests.
Police sources confirm to NBC Charlotte that a witness’ photo taken moments after the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott shows a gun at his feet.
“I can tell you a weapon was seized, a handgun”, Putney said, “I can also tell you we did not find a book that has been made referenced to”.
Protesters say that Scott, who had seven children, was not armed, but was carrying a book.
“My first thought was it was non-lethal because police were shooting rubber bullets”, he said.
“Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated”, McCrory said in a statement.
The three uniformed officers had body cameras; the plainclothes officer did not, police said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said officers were searching for a suspect on Tuesday when they saw Scott exit a vehicle with a handgun.
The fatal shooting came amid an intense national debate over the use of deadly force by police, particularly against black men.
Some rioters and protesters dispersed after police fired tear gas before 11 p.m. ET.
Video of the shooting has not been released.
The deaths were the latest to raise questions of racial bias in US law enforcement, and they stoked a national debate on policing ahead of the USA presidential election in November.
“Protest is protected by our Constitution and is a vital instrument for raising issues and creating change”.
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Annette Albright, who attended the protests, said those misbehaving need direction.
