Chief among protesters’ demands has been the public release of dashcam and body camera video of the shooting.
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Screenshot of the video release.
Several officers were present when Scott was shot, but police have released footage from only one body camera.
In Rakeyia’s video, she can be heard telling officers that her husband has a brain injury and that he isn’t carrying a weapon. After reputedly seeing Scott hold up a gun, they retreated to put on vests identifying themselves as police officers and returned to find Scott still with the gun. “But we have far more questions than answers”. “It is a tragic loss of life”.
And police chief Kerr Putney says these videos, pieced together with physical and scientific evidence, along with what the officers involved say, show officer Vinson was justified. The 2 -minute video released by the family does not show the shooting, though gunshots can be heard.
The news conference came as demonstrators on Saturday mounted a fifth day of protests in Charlotte.
The CMPD chief, Kerr Putney, earlier green-lighted the release saying it will not hamper the ongoing investigation into the incident.
Chief Putney said that officers had acted responsibly, but insisted he would not “try the case” in public.
Officers were looking for another man on an outstanding warrant when Scott was shot. He added that Scott was “absolutely in possession of a handgun” and that officers saw marijuana in his vehicle, which caused them to act. “When an officer tried to break the SUV’s window “to make an arrest”, Scott exited the vehicle with the gun and backed away from the vehicle while continuing to ignore officers’ repeated loud verbal commands to drop the gun”, the statement said.
“They were specifically looking for somebody wanted”, Putney said. “Facts, footage and an explanation of where we stand today relative to the investigation”.
Chief Putney told reporters on Saturday that officers saw marijuana and a weapon in Keith Lamont Scott’s auto and said, “uh oh, this is a safety issue for us and the public.”.
A police officer than yells: “Don’t shoot”. But he says pay attention as Keith Scott comes out of his auto, using his left hand to open the door, saying clearly there is no gun in that hand.
Charlotte Police have just released this video of the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.
Former FBI agent and prosecutor M. Quentin Williams told NBC Charlotte’s Michelle Boudin that the gun appeared to be cocked when the photo was taken at the crime scene.
“We do not shoot to kill. We shoot to end the threat”.
A uniformed officer in a marked patrol vehicle arrived to assist the officers. Scott was shot after allegedly refusing to drop the gun. On Friday, Scott’s family released cellphone footage filmed by his wife. He said officials’ delay in releasing the videos was due to protecting the integrity of their investigation. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts has also said the footage is not conclusive. At one point in the body-camera video, there is a view of Scott from his right side and he has his arm by his body, but it is unclear if there is a gun.
Ray Dotch identified himself as Scott’s brother-in-law.
The department also released a narrative of what happened in the moments leading up to the shooting and immediately following it.
Protesters march in the streets during another night of protests over the police shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. September 23, 2016.
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Putney said he chose to release the videos Saturday because SBI officials told him it would not have any “adverse impact” to their independent investigation.
