Protesters took to the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina, for a fourth night on Friday, calling on law enforcement to “release the tapes” of the fatal police shooting of a black man, hours after the victim’s family released its own video.
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A midnight-to-6 a.m. curfew remained in effect Friday.
If, as Chief Kerr Putney says, the police were justified in the shooting of Scott, wouldn’t the video footage prove that?
A state of emergency has been declared in North Carolina following days of unending protests against police brutality. The family said Scott was carrying a book but police said they recovered a gun.
Governor Pat McCrory said Friday that it would be improper of him to say if the video should be released by local authorities, saying that CMPD was the custodian of the original video and had the legal authority to release it despite the SBI leading initiating its investigation of the shooting. The footage by Scott’s wife captures the sound of four shots but does not show Scott being hit – nor does it make clear whether he had a weapon.
The police department has so far refused to release two videos of the incident unless there is a “compelling reason”.
Police claim it was a gun.
Meanwhile in Tulsa, Oklahoma the family of Terence Crutcher say they will not be satisfied until the officer who killed him is convicted.
Putney said that he made a decision to release the footage after receiving assurances from the State Bureau of Investigation that it would not impact its independent probe of the shooting.
A group of about 50 protesters showed up at police headquarters, chanting “I am my brother’s keeper”. Keith Lamont Scott was in his truck outside their apartment complex when police said officers who were in the area saw him holding a gun.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have not been very forthcoming with information regarding the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott on September 20.
Friday evening, however, Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts told CNN that Clinton should postpone her visit.
“It’s a personal struggle, but I have to do what I think is best for my community”, Putney said. Multiple state and local officials, including Roberts and Attorney General Roy Cooper said that the video should be released to the public.
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Faircloth, previously police chief in the city of High Point for 16 years, said the upcoming rules provide uniformity statewide on how footage will be handled.
