The police’s version – that Scott pulled a gun before being shot by a black officer Tuesday – diverts widely from accounts of Scott’s family members and neighbors, who said Scott carried only a book during the encounter. Neighbours, though, have said he was holding only a book.
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“We had a lot of looting at a lot of businesses”, Putney said, adding that state police and National Guard troops would help to secure the area on Thursday.
Hours before nightfall Thursday, the police chief said he saw no need for a curfew.
So while the video does not appear to show Keith Lamont Scott pointing the gun at anyone it does show him holding it.
“Quite frankly, because of the climate we’re in, I think the city of Charlotte has a right to see that video”, said Charlote NAACP President Corine Mack.
In a statement released by the family’s attorneys, they say they have “more questions than answers”.
Charlotte police have not said whether they will release the videos to the public. CMPD confirmed that four officers were injured during Wednesday night’s protests, all experience injuries that were not life-threatening.
The protests follow the shooting on Tuesday of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African American – the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across the United States. Bamberg, one of the family’s attorneys, insisted the family needed more time to grieve before addressing the media.
“The Department of Justice is aware of, and we are assessing, the incident that led to the death of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte”. “At this point, there is speculation because the videos have not been released”. Police issued several commands, he said, but Scott “did not aggressively approach them or raise his hands at members of law enforcement at any time”.
It would be inappropriate to release footage of “a victim’s worst day” for public consumption, Putney said.
Charlotte’s reluctance to release the video stands in contrast to Oklahoma, where officials on Monday released footage of the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher by police after his vehicle broke down on a highway.
The police have said they shot Scott after he ignored officers’ instructions to drop a weapon.
We will continue our own investigation into Mr. Scott’s death.
Reykia Scott, Scott’s wife, released a statement Thursday, urging protesters to be peaceful.
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“Me, as a mother, wants to know why he would be carrying a gun to pick up a little child”, she said.
