Word of the incident exploded on social media and drew national attention in the wake of police shootings of black men that led to protests from Ferguson, Mo., to Tulsa, Okla., and spawned the Black Lives Matter movement.
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More riot police were called in, banging their batons against their shields as they walked in line before stopping at the intersection of College and Trade streets, where protesters met them, yelling, just inches from the officer’s faces.
Police fired tear gas at hundreds of protesters marching for a second night to protest the shooting of a black man by a police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina.
However, Scott’s family denied the police claims and said he was waiting to pick up his son from school and was holding a book, not a gun. North Carolina has a law that takes effect October 1 requiring a judge to approve releasing police video, and Putney said he doesn’t release video when a criminal investigation is ongoing.
In 2013, Charlotte police charged one of their own, Randall Kerrick with voluntary manslaughter within days, after the white officer shot an unarmed black man who had been in a wreck and was looking for help.
Witnesses he had been shot in the head but there were conflicting reports of whether a gun, rubber bullet or tear gas was used, and whether it was sacked by police or other demonstrators. Protesters reportedly threw fireworks and bottles at officers who responded with flash grenades and tear gas. Others set fire to trash cans.
The streets in downtown Charlotte appeared to be calm Thursday morning.
Some rioters smashed things while others knocked over an ATM and grabbed money from it, said Marcus DiPaulo, a freelance photographer.
Earlier, the city had tweeted that the person had died. That one had all the hallmarks of the shooting of an unarmed suspect which, while possibly justified based on Mr. Crutcher’s hand movements, just looked terrible and was bound to have the public in considerable distress. Already tonight we have seen civilians, police and emergency responders injured.
“We certainly are going to talk about that today”.
Get breaking news right in your inbox.. His family and a witness say he was holding a book, not a firearm, when he was killed.
“It’s time for the voiceless majority to stand up and be heard”, said the police chief, who is black.
Officers repeatedly told Scott to drop his handgun, the chief said, but he didn’t.
The officer who shot him was placed on administrative leave in line with standard procedure.
Putney was adamant that Scott posed a threat, even if he didn’t point his weapon at officers, and said a gun was found next to the dead man.
They requested the city of Charlotte to be transparent with any video and information that “can bring light in the tragic death of Mr. Keith Lamont Scott”. Vinson was reportedly wearing plain clothes and a clearly marked CMPD vest. Three uniformed officers at the shooting scene had body cameras; Vinson did not, police said. There are also dash cam recordings and investigators are reviewing the footage, Putney said.
McCrory said he was also sending the National Guard to Charlotte as scattered groups of protesters continued to attack reporters and others, break windows and start fires. He was reading a book in his auto when he was ordered to step out by police, and was tasered and shot four times, she said. “He was sitting in his auto reading a mother******* book”. “Cops shot him, for nothing”.
“My daddy is dead!” the woman screams on the video.
Earlier in the day, Keith Lamont Scott’s wife, Rakeiya Scott, released a statement asking for protesters to remain calm.
Dramatic photos of the scene where the man was wounded were also disseminated. Protesters have been demanding justice and an end to police brutality for months.
The protests escalated after word of the uptown shooting got out.
The incidents are the latest to raise questions of racial bias in USA law enforcement.
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“Protest is protected by our Constitution and is a vital instrument for raising issues and creating change”.
