North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency late Wednesday night, as violent protests against the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott continued to rock Charlotte for a second night.
One man was shot and critically injured during the chaos when rioters, who flooded the downtown area, tried to storm the Omni hotel and police responded with tear gas, according to The Los Angeles Times.
The victim, who was at first said to be dead, was shot by a civilian, not by the police, the city said.
ALERT: Fatal shot uptown was civilian on civilian. @CMPD did not fire shot.
— City of Charlotte (@CLTgov)
CORRECTION UPDATE: Civilian who suffered gunshot wound during protests is on life support, critical condition. Not deceased.
— City of Charlotte (@CLTgov)
Some protesters believe the police shot the unidentified man, which has sparked even more outrage against local law enforcement.
“It was an ambush. The victim was shot while he stood between two ministers, and we believe he was shot by police,” said Minister Steve Knight of the city’s Missiongathering Christian Church.
Four police officers and two others were also injured, as protesters smashed windows of hotels and looted businesses, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department tweeted early Wednesday morning.
4 officers injured during demonstration. All non- life threatening
— CMPD News (@CMPD)
Employees working at some businesses located in central Charlotte were told not to come into work Thursday, The Washington Post reported.
Scott, a 43-year-old black man, was fatally shot by a black police officer Tuesday, outside an apartment building.
Officers and officials say they are reviewing video surveillance, worn by officers at the scene, but not by the officer who shot Scott. They also assert that Scott was armed and posed a threat.
But many people believe the man was unarmed and was sitting in his car, reading a book while waiting for his son to arrive home from school on the bus when he was killed.
Mayor Jennifer Roberts announced Scott’s family will watch the footage Thursday, The Charlotte Observer reported. But the police chief has made it clear the department will not be publicly releasing the video until after the investigation due to state policies.
Roberts, however, has said she is trying to find a way for other community leaders to gain access to the videos, she told The Washington Post.
“I’ve asked to see it. I’d like to invite some folks like the chair of NAACP to see it with me. I don’t know what’s in it. I don’t know how complete it is. There may be gaps including where other officers were,” she said.
Some say police should share the video since it’s the only way to end the debate over whether or not Scott was carrying a gun.
“We must work together to ensure the process is swift, just and transparent. That begins with actions like releasing the video and calling for transparency, accountability and collaboration,” Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., said.
A new state regulation, beginning Oct. 1, will require a court order for police to make body camera footage public. But Roberts says officials have told her the law would not require them to this case, since it occurred before Oct. 1.
Wednesday night’s violence was the second evening of violence.
Protests began Tuesday night, when rioters took to the streets of Charlotte, leading to a dozen police injuries and a temporary closing of Interstate 85.
Scott’s death follows the fatal shooting of another black man, 40-year-old Terence Crutcher, by a white officer in Tulsa Oklahoma.
[SEE: Tulsa Police Department Releases Video of Officer Shooting Unarmed Black Man]
More from U.S. News
Charlotte Shooting Death of Keith Lamont Scott Causes Riots
Tulsa Police Department Releases Video of Officer Shooting Unarmed Black Man
Why Aren’t Police Held Accountable for Shooting Black Men?
N.C. Governor Pat McCrory Declares State of Emergency as Violence Ensues originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 09/22/16: This story was updated as new information became available.
