Charlotte police release videos of Keith Scott's fatal shooting

Charlotte, N.C., police have released body and dashboard camera footage of the shooting of a black man after several days of demonstrations that have coalesced around demands that the public see the videos. The footage did not show whether Keith Lamont Scott was holding a gun.

A dashboard camera from a police car showed Scott, killed on Tuesday, exiting his car and backing away from it. Police shout to him to drop the gun, but it is not clear that he has anything in his hand. Then shots break out and Scott drops to the ground.

A second body camera video from an officer does not show the moment of shooting. It shows Scott, a 43-year-old father of seven,outside his vehicle before he is shot.Then the officer moves and Scott is out of view until he is seen on the ground.

WARNING: Thesevideos containgraphic imagery and language.

WARNING: graphic images - Charlotte police video of Keith Lamont Scott shooting

8 years ago

Duration 1:11

WARNING: graphic images - Charlotte police video of Keith Lamont Scott shooting

WARNING: graphic images - Charlotte police release dashcam video of Keith Lamont Scott shooting

8 years ago

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WARNING: graphic images - Charlotte police release dashcam video of Keith Lamont Scott shooting

At a news conference earlier today ChiefKerrPutneyannounced he would release the photosvideos, adding thatthese andother evidence they were releasing would corroborate the policeaccount of how things unfolded, including thatScott was holding a gun when he was shot.

Police say the photos they releasedshowa handgun and marijuana that were in Scott's possession.

Putneyaddressed reporters hours after several hundred demonstrators took to the street for a fifth day and marched around downtown Charlotte.

He said that Scott was "absolutely in possession of a handgun," and that officers also saw marijuana in his car prompting them to act.

Thevideo below,taken by Scott's wife,RakeyiaScott, wasreleased to the public on Friday but did not provide an answer on whether Scott had a gun.

WARNING: Thisvideocontains graphic imagery and language

Graphic warning: Dramatic cellphone video at Charlotte, N.C. shooting

8 years ago

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Keith Scott family lawyers release wife's video of incident to media

The Scott family held a press conference of their own Saturday evening. AttorneyJustinBambergsaidthe most important question to be answered was whether the "precious seconds" between when Scott exited the vehicle and when he died "justify the shooting."

"Mr Scott steps out of the vehicle. He doesn't appear to be acting aggressive towards any of the law enforcement officers on the scene. He doesn't appear to be making gestures or motions as though he's arguing with anybody. He doesn't lunge at the officers. It appears he has his hands by his side," saidBambergofthe videos released by police.

'An American citizen who deserved better'

Ray Dotch, who identified himself asScott's brother-in-law,said heobjected to reporters' questions about Scott's background and character, saying he shouldn't have to "humanize himin order for him to be treated fairly.

"What you should say about him is that he was an American citizen who deserved better," he added.

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Putney said that he decided to release the footage after receiving assurances from the State Bureau of Investigation that it would not impact its independent probe of the shooting.

Asked whether he expected the footage to quiet protesters, Putney responded: "The footage itself will not create in anyone's mind as to what this case represents ... the footage only supports the other information" such as forensic evidence and witness statements.

He also said that his officers didn't break the law but noted that the State Bureau of Investigation is continuing its investigation.

"Officers are absolutely not being charged by me, but again, there's another investigation ongoing," he said.

Amid anxiety and unease over the shooting of Scott, demonstrations in Charlotte have gone from violent to peaceful.

Many of the hundreds massed outside at the Charlotte police department building Saturday afternoon chanted the name "Keith Scott."

Protesters marched Saturday through the streets of a city on edge after Scott's shooting death. The demonstrations reached a violent crescendo on Wednesday before the National Guard was called in a day later to maintain order.

The next two nights of protests were free of property damage and violence, with organizers stressing a message of peace at the end of the week.

On Saturday, demonstrators changed, "No tapes, no peace" and raised signs including one reading "Stop Killing The Black People." Community organizers said on Friday they anticipated that protests would continue in some form until the videos were released.

Charlotte is the latest U.S. city to be shaken by protests and recriminations over the death of a black man at the hands of police, a list that includes Baltimore,Milwaukee, Wis.,Chicago, New York and Ferguson, Miss.