Police Shooting: Charlotte Community Leaders Urge Calm Ahead Of Second Night Of Protests

UPDATED: 11:30 p.m. EDT — North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory issued a state of emergency for at the request of Charlotte police as violence erupted for a second night following the police shooting of a black man.

A statement from the governor’s office said efforts have been initiated to deploy the National Guard and State Highway Patrol to assist Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

Governor Pat McCrory has declared a State of Emergency upon the request Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney. The governor has also initiated efforts to deploy the North Carolina National Guard and the State Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement.

WCNC, Charlotte, North Carolina, reported at least two people were arrested during Wednesday’s protest as Ritz-Carlton hotel workers barricaded their doors following a shooting in front of the Omni Hotel. MSNBC said the person shot was a female police officer.

WSOC-TV, Charlotte, quoted an official at the Hyatt House uptown as saying protesters attacked two of its employees.

UPDATED: 11:05 p.m. EDT — Violence erupted for a second night in Charlotte, North Carolina, following the police shooting of a black man who refused police commands to drop his weapon.

One man was shot and critically injured during a protest by hundreds of demonstrators. Police said the victim was shot by another civilian, not police. A police officer also was reported injured.

Police in riot gear lobbed tear gas at protesters as fires burned in the streets and protesters kicked in glass at an apartment building. A CNN reporter was knocked down as he gave a live report.

Gov. Pat McCrory pledged state assistance to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and sent state troopers to Charlotte to help quell the violence as Mayor Jennifer Roberts pleaded with protesters to go home. She said she would view the video of Scott’s killing Thursday.

Scott’s wife issued a statement urging people to protest peacefully.

UPDATED: 10:55 p.m. EDT — The city of Charlotte tweeted the gunshot victim did not die but rather is in critical condition and on life support.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts Wednesday urged demonstrators to “go home and tell everyone violence is not the answer.” Roberts issued the plea during a call to CNN.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory issued a statement saying the State Bureau of Investigation is helping Charlotte Mecklenburg Police investigate Tuesday’s shooting of Keith Scott and State Highway Patrol troopers would be sent to Charlotte.

“Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated. I support and commend the law enforcement officials for their bravery and courage during this difficult situation,” McCrory said.

UPDATED: 10:30 p.m. EDT — The protest in Charlotte, North Carolina, against the shooting of a black man by police turned violent for a second straight night Wednesday.

Police said one person was shot and killed and two others with non-life-threatening injuries were treated by emergency medical personnel as police in riot gear used tear gas to try to quell the violence.

Looters hit the Charlotte Hornets team store in the uptown area, team officials told WSOC-TV, Charlotte.

A city official said the fatal shooting was between two civilians and police were not involved.

UPDATED: 9:30 p.m. EDT — WSOC-TV, Charlotte, reported the person who was shot died.

UPDATED: 9:25 p.m. EDT — 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.

The Associated Press reported at least one person was injured, reportedly from a gunshot, and rushed to a hospital.

UPDATED: 9:05 p.m. EDT — One person was reported shot in a second night of protests in Charlotte Wednesday. WSOC-TV, Charlotte, said the injured person was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

UPDATED: 9 p.m. EDT — Shots were reported fired in an area where protesters were marching Wednesday night against the shooting Tuesday of Keith Lamont Scott. WSOC-TV, Charlotte, reported medical personnel were on the scene but there was no immediate word on injuries.

UPDATED: 7:15 p.m. EDT — The wife of Keith Lamont Scott, who was shot to death by a police officer Tuesday, issued a statement Wednesday urging calm.

“We respect the rights of those who wish to protest, but we ask that people protest peacefully. Please do not hurt people or members of law enforcement, damage property or take things that do not belong to you in the name of protesting,” Rakeyia Scott said.

Earlier, the White House issued a statement, saying President Barack Obama had spoken with Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts.

WSOC, Charlotte, reported businesses were closing early to try to avoid trouble.

Original story

Charlotte, North Carolina, was on edge Wednesday, as community leaders tried to head off a possible second night of violence in the wake of the police shooting of a black man.

Keith Lamont Scott, 43, a father of seven, was shot to death Tuesday by black Officer Brentley Vinson, 26, as police conducted a search in the University City area about 4 p.m. EDT for someone wanted on an outstanding warrant. Police said Scott was armed and failed to drop the weapon when told to do so.

Violence erupted Tuesday night and police fired tear gas about 11 p.m. to quell the disturbances. One person was arrested. Sixteen police officers were injured and at least two police cars damaged.

“We will do everything we can to support the mayor and the police chief in their efforts to keep the community calm and to get this situation resolved,” Gov. Pat McCrory said in a statement.

About two dozen protesters gathered Wednesday afternoon at the Bank of America Tower, holding signs reading “Black Lives Matter” and “Stop Killing us,” the Charlotte Observer reported.

“This is a very difficult situation for everyone involved,” Mayor Jennifer Roberts said at a Wednesday news conference. “I’d like to ask people to wait until all information is available.”

The Chamber of Commerce issued a statement urging business owners to exercise caution.

The Observer said a woman who identified herself in a live stream as Scott’s daughter said Scott was reading a book in his vehicle while waiting for his son’s school bus and was not armed.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said people should not believe everything they see on social media.

"I can tell you a weapon was seized — a handgun. I can also tell you we did not find a book that has been made reference to. I can just tell you what I know based on what we've gathered and the scientific process of going through the evidence," Putney said.

“I’m optimistic that the results of our actions will be positive ... but it’s time for the voices of the majority to stand up and be heard. It’s time to change the narrative, because I can tell you from the facts that the stories will be different as to how it's been portrayed so far, especially through social media,” he said.

Putney said his department is trying to be as transparent as possible, WSOC-TV, Charlotte, reported.

Charlotte civil rights activist John Barnet urged participants to keep protests peaceful.

“I do encourage the youth to be controlled, but I can’t control them,” Barnett said.