The streets in Charlotte, North Carolina, are quite Wednesday morning after angry protests over the fatal police shooting of a black man left officers injured and shut down an interstate.
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One protester was shot and gravely wounded by a civilian, and four police officers suffered non-life threatening injuries, city officials said on Twitter. The man was shuttled to an area hospital where he was put on life support and listed in critical condition.
Scott had gotten out of his vehicle near the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, when police confronted the 40-year-old African-American and fatally shot him on September 20, notes NBC News.
Trump called on to “make America safe again” and said that the police officer who shot Scott “choked”.
“Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated”, Mr McCrory said in a statement.
This latest trouble began with a peaceful rally that turned violent after several hundred demonstrators marched through the city centre with brief stops at a black church, police headquarters and a large entertainment venue.
The protests began Tuesday after the police killed African-American Keith Lamonth Scott, 43, who, according to the police, was armed.
Department spokesman Keith Trietley said that the 43-year-old got out of the auto and back in, and when officers approached he got out of the vehicle again with a gun, and at least one officer fired a weapon.
“We’ve got brothers and sisters and children and fathers who think we’re not going to live to see the next day”.
The governor of North Carolina has declared a state of emergency in Charlotte.
Police in riot gear clashed with demonstrators and smoke from what appeared to be tear-gas canisters filled the night sky. “He was taken alive”, protester Nichelle Dunlap told CNN affiliate WCCB in Charlotte.
Some demonstrators banged on windows, others stood on cars and threw objects at police.
Police report that 12 officers were injured during the protests, with one of them being hit in the face with a rock.
Local officers have tried to disperse the protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Police said the plainsclothes officer who shot Scott, identified as Brently Vinson, has been placed on leave, standard procedure in such cases.
Police say Mr Scott was repeatedly told to drop his handgun before he was shot but his family say he was reading a book at the time.
“What we’re calling for is an economic boycott of the whole city Charlotte”, he said. The police chief was unable to say if Mr Scott had been pointing his weapon at officers. But the chief said he can not release any video because the investigation is still underway.
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The deaths add to a torrent of accusations over racial bias in United States law enforcement and calls for greater police accountability for the killings of black people.
