A state of emergency has been called in Charlotte, North Carolina, as unrest continues over the fatal police shooting of a black man. However, they later corrected their statement to say the man was on life support and in critical condition.
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North Carolina’s governor declared a state of emergency in the city.
“Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated”, McCrory said in a statement late Wednesday.
Law enforcement officials attempted to disperse the crowd, but many of them splintered off and attempted to block roadways.
Some protesters were heard yelling ‘Black lives matter, ‘ and ‘Hands up, don’t shoot!’ One person held up a sign saying ‘Stop Killing Us’.
“We respect the rights of those who wish to protest, but we ask that people protest peacefully”.
Police in Charlotte on Wednesday appealed for calm and defended their actions in the death of Mr Scott by insisting he had been repeatedly warned to drop his gun.
The confrontation grew more intense as officers carrying shields moved down a street, pushing back a crowd of demonstrators who hurried for cover as police fired more tear gas.
But not all the marchers left.
Before midnight, protesters descended upon Interstate 277, which they blocked.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney defended his officers’ actions in an interview with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly on “The Kelly File”.
Charlotte officials say a man shot during the protest died but was not wounded by a police officer.
Police have confirmed the plainsclothes officer who shot Scott, identified as Brently Vinson, has been placed on leave. Police said Scott had a firearm and posed an “imminent deadly threat,” but members of Scott’s family claimed he had been holding a book.
The three uniformed officers had body cameras; the plainclothes officer did not, police said.
“We’re just going to present the facts and let the justice system run its course”, he told “The Kelly File”.
The officers had been looking for a suspect with an outstanding warrant when they encountered Scott – who was not the suspect they were looking for – inside a auto, the department said in a statement. Police say he had a gun, while others contend the police mistook a book for a weapon. He also said: “I can tell you we did not find a book”.
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.
Sixteen police officers were injured in unrest on Tuesday night. Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by police on Tuesday.
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Several businesses in uptown and near the Epicentre were looted and broken into last night as several people protested the shooting death of Keith Scott. Authorities used tear gas to break up the protests. Two others also suffered minor injuries.
