Charlotte erupts with protests after police kill disabled black man family says was ‘reading book in car’
Police in riot gear use teargas to disperse protesters after police killed a disabled black man in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 (Credit: Adam Rhew/Charlotte magazine)
Large protests erupted throughout Charlotte, North Carolina late Tuesday night after police shot and killed a black father.
The family of the victim, who was identified as 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, says he was disabled, and was unarmed and reading a book in his car when he was killed. Police claim Scott was armed.
Lyric Scott, the victim’s daughter, streamed a video on Facebook immediately after the incident.
“You shot my daddy for being black!” Lyric Scott told the police in the video.
She said her father was disabled and unarmed.
The victim’s sister also claimed he was unarmed, local journalist Joe Bruno reported.
Sister of the man police shot and killed: "he didn't have no gun, he wasn't messing with nobody" @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/37k55Lt70H
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 21, 2016
Keith Lamont Scott’s brother and cousin said he had been holding a book and was waiting for his son to be dropped off after school.
The brother of the man police shot and killed tells me he was holding a book and waiting for his son to be dropped off from school @wsoctv
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 20, 2016
Y'all shot my cousin because he was reading a book and waiting for his son to get off the bus? Please explain #KeithLamontScott
— Black Barbie™ (@KelTheQueen) September 21, 2016
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department told local news outlet WSOC-TV that they had been looking for an unrelated suspect who had an outstanding warrant when they saw a man leave his car with a gun.
Officers then approached the man, even though North Carolina is an open carry state. Police claim the man, later identified as Keith Lamont Scott, got out of his car with a gun and “posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers,” WSOC-TV said.
Prominent lawyer and legal analyst Eric Guster emphasized that, even if Keith Lamont Scott had been armed, North Carolina is an open carry state.
#KeithLamontScott was the wrong person. Police were looking for someone else.
If he had a gun, it is an open carry state.
Try again
— Eric Guster, Esq (@EricGuster) September 21, 2016
An eyewitness told Lyric Scott that police tased her father and shot him at least three times.
Keith Lamont Scott was taken to the hospital, where police later confirmed that he died.
Protests erupted in response to the shooting.
I'm at the scene of a protest after a Charlotte police officer shot a man earlier today. pic.twitter.com/bC7eIM28A0
— Adam Rhew (@AdamRhew) September 21, 2016
Local journalist and photographer Adam Rhew said police pushed protesters down the road, then used teargas to disperse them.
Police moving crowd down the road. #charlotte #cmpd pic.twitter.com/Ny8cBEbP1V
— Adam Rhew (@AdamRhew) September 21, 2016
Crowd dispersing after Charlotte police used tear gas #cmpd pic.twitter.com/sjx255fkZC
— Adam Rhew (@AdamRhew) September 21, 2016
Local reporters said a bus with a SWAT team was called in, while protesters chanted “Hands up don’t shoot,” a popular slogan in the Black Lives Matter movement.
SWAT is here. People are chanting "hands up don't shoot" @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/9h3q16S1z5
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 21, 2016
A bus full of SWAT officers arrive at I-85. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/0Nq6Kv1C9K
— Gina Esposito (@GinaWSOC9) September 21, 2016
Scores of protesters subsequently blocked the busy highway I-85.
Wow pic.twitter.com/TS8nl6NKG0
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 21, 2016
Protesters also damaged police cars in outrage at the killing. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said at least 12 officers were injured in the protests.
this is happening in my city right now. #KeithLamontScott #cmpd #charlotte pic.twitter.com/HcqNxXpTAs
— sedra (@sedrakurdi) September 21, 2016
A man who identifies on Facebook as Mills Shaka Zulu Gill livestreamed multiple videos of the demonstrations. Mills’ video shows protesters setting up flaming barricades on the highway, while police shoot more teargas.
#KeithLamontScott protesters still out, blocking highways, & setting up flaming barricades: https://t.co/yaeFnpSaOm #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/TJ9crWSjUr
— Ash J (@AshAgony) September 21, 2016
Cops are shooting more tear gas at #KeithLamontScott protesters now: https://t.co/yaeFnpSaOm #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/nD9A4mXiBB
— Ash J (@AshAgony) September 21, 2016
On social media, users criticized those who were more upset at the destruction of property than the loss of a life.
Police car < human life.
Not to mention this is a REaction to an action…which ended in someone's death. Perspective. #KeithLamontScott https://t.co/uUSSuw8hSr
— pam (@pamnonga) September 21, 2016
If you're angrier over a cruiser being destroyed than the murder of an innocent man then you are part of the problem. #KeithLamontScott
— Elizabeth (@FeministRainbow) September 21, 2016
So we can't read books without being shot either? #KeithLamontScott
— Phalisha Jackson (@icandyphi93) September 21, 2016
Samuel Sinyangwe, a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, noted that, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department statistics, black residents are just 32 percent of the population, yet are subject to 50 percent of stops, 68 percent of searches and 74 percent of uses of force.
.@CMPD stats show black people are:
32% of population
50% of stops
68% of searches
74% of uses of force
Hyper targeted. #KeithLamontScott
— Samuel Sinyangwe (@samswey) September 21, 2016
In response to the police shooting, Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts tweeted, “The community deserves answers and full investigation will ensue. Will be reaching out to community leaders to work together.”
The community deserves answers and full investigation will ensue. Will be reaching out to community leaders to work together @CMPD @ncnaacp
— Mayor of Charlotte (@CLTMayor) September 21, 2016
