Officers shot Scott after he got out of the auto again with a firearm “and posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers”, police previously said. Tahesia Williams, described as an eyewitness, said, “They took the book and replaced it with a gun”.
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The protesters were marching Wednesday to denounce the police shooting of African American Keith Lamont Scott, killed in the city on Tuesday night.
Roberts urged community leaders to be advocates for peace during protests and demonstrations. Four police officers were injured during the protests. We don’t want to see people getting hurt. The city saw a few protests in response at the time – but no major violence. Local officers’ ranks were augmented by members of the National Guard carrying rifles and guarding office buildings against the threat of property damage.
The Charlotte police chief earlier announced the death, but later on the statement was retracted.
Though the video will not be released to the public, Putney said the department would allow Scott’s family to view the footage.
Scott’s family has said he was reading a book when police officers approached his vehicle and shot him. She told NPR News that the question of releasing the video of the shooting largely depended on how the investigation progressed. Putney said Thursday nine civilians were also injured.
The Observer said streets were quiet Thursday morning.
The Charlotte case is the latest in a series of controversial shootings of black men by police.
North Carolina officials and the Charlotte Panthers are discussing security issues for Sunday’s Vikings-Panthers NFL game after Charlotte was rocked by two nights of tense street protests over the police shooting of a black man. Police said Scott was armed and no book was found at the scene.
“Transparency is in the eye of the beholder”, he said.
Officials have not yet released video of the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott, 43, who police said refused to drop a weapon in his possession.
“The policy has been that until all the piece of evidence are in place, until the witnesses have been interviewed, until we can gather a full picture, that we are not releasing that”, she said.
Scott didn’t own a gun or habitually carry a gun, the family has told their attorneys, Bamberg said.
Scott’s mother echoed those calls for calm.
Roberts says we will have a transparent investigation of Scott shooting.
Scott was shot as he walked slowly backward with his hands by his side, Bamberg said. He also said Scott’s family has requested to see the video, and he hopes to accommodate that. But she said that not having seen it, she wasn’t sure if the footage was in fact conclusive.
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Another video shot Wednesday night shows an activist with the Free Hugs Project defusing tensions between police in riot gear and protesters. Chief Kerr Putney said it would be inappropriate to present footage of “a victim’s worst day” for public consumption. He said it is “irresponsible” of police not to release the video immediately. A police spokesman saw the footage said it does not show police misconduct.
