Protests have turned violent in Charlotte, North Carolina, after a black man was killed Tuesday in an officer-involved shooting, WBTV and other sources report.
At least a dozen officers reportedly suffered injuries, all of which are expected to fully recover.
Several officers injured tonight working to protect our community during demonstration.
— CMPD News (@CMPD) September 21, 2016
The shooting happened around 4 p.m. at an apartment complex when officials were apparently searching for a person with an outstanding warrant. Scott was shot by Officer Brentley Vinson, who also is black, according to The Associated Press.
That’s when they said a person exited a vehicle with a firearm, but got back into his vehicle when officers approached. The man has now been identified as 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott.
A police report states that Scott then got back out of the vehicle “armed with a firearm and posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers who subsequently fired their weapon striking the subject.”
That weapon was subsequently recovered at the scene, police said, adding that they requested professional emergency help before beginning CPR.
Scott was pronounced dead at an area hospital. Vinson has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such cases. Vinson has been with the department for two years, AP reported.
Hours later, large crowds had gathered at the scene of the shooting, some shouting and some holding “Black Lives Matter” signs.
WBTV reports that a little later, around 11 p.m., large clouds of possibly tear gas could be seen coming from the crowds as officers slipped on gas masks.
#BREAKING It appears gas has just been sent into the crowd @WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/LTXk8w0vDX
— Alex Giles WBTV (@AlexGilesNews) September 21, 2016
Meanwhile, police cars were seen being vandalized.
Agitators destroying marked police units. CEU continues to work to restore order and protect our community. pic.twitter.com/ZSYSt374w0
— CMPD News (@CMPD) September 21, 2016
The incident follows Friday's highly-publicized shooting of an unarmed black man in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Chilling video footage showed 40-year-old Terence Crutcher walking away from officers with his hands in the air when he was shocked with a stun gun and then fatally shot.
