Protests erupted in Charlotte, N.C., after a black man was shot and killed by police while they were serving a warrant to a different person, according to The Root. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released a statement saying Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was armed and "posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers who subsequently fired their weapon striking the subject." Witnesses and family members say Scott was unarmed and holding a book, among them, the victim's daughter, Lyric Scott, who streamed via Facebook Live from the scene.
The police officer who shot Scott has been identified as Brentley Vinson, who has been placed on administrative leave.
Following news of the shooting, protesters responded, shutting down part of Interstate 85.
Demonstrators start a fire, shut down Interstate 85 after the shooting death of #KeithLamontScott: https://t.co/x8FBcjWDld #CharlotteProtest pic.twitter.com/7Z8Gk09sPc
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) September 21, 2016
Charlotte police reported that 12 officers were injured in clashes.
Approximately 12 officers injured. One officer hit in face with a rock
— CMPD News (@CMPD) September 21, 2016
The death of Keith Lamont Scott comes on the heels of yet another in a series of police shooting deaths of unarmed black men: Terence Crutcher, 40, in Tulsa, Okla., last week. In fact, using a tracker provided by The Guardian, reporters at The Huffington Post yesterday pointed out that since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began protesting by taking a knee during the national anthem, 15 black people have died during encounters with the police.
That number has now risen to 16.
Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!