Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Deadly Officer-involved Shooting Leads to Unrest in University City of Charlotte
Sep 21, 2016 - 8:19 AM
WSOC TV

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - CLICK HERE to watch Eyewitness News Daybreak for the latest in this major developing story.

A police officer shot an armed man at an apartment complex Tuesday, authorities said, prompting angry street protests starting Tuesday and into Wednesday morning.

7:45 a.m.: Reporter Blake Hanson spoke with Deputy Chief Foster who was up all night and will be on break until noon. There might not be an update from CMPD until after that.

7:30 a.m.: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said it's not changing its bus routes after overnight protests.

SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES: Protests erupt after deadly officer-involved shooting in Charlotte

7:20 a.m. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said on WBT Radio that investigators don't yet know all the information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting and urged people not to jump to conclusions.

Roberts said that the safety and security of the community and first responders are of the utmost importance.

"So what I'm asking the community to do is remain calm and to please let our investigation continue so we can get the facts in front of the public," Roberts said.

She will meet Wednesday morning with CMPD Chief Kerr Putney.

6 a.m.: The Walmart on North Tryon Street is closed and barricaded after looters threw rocks through the windows.

5:20 a.m.: DOT workers pulled up the last of the police line tape and cones from I-85.

5:00 a.m.: CMPD said about 12 officers were injured. One officer was hit in the face with a rock. MEDIC said seven officers and one civilian were taken to the hospital throughout the night. A dozen officers were treated at the scene.

4:45 a.m.: DOT crews are back on I-85 in University City cleaning up leftover debris from overnight.

4:30 a.m.: Hospital officials said 11 were treated with minor injuries at CMC-Main and CMC-University. About five people have been arrested, police said.

3:55 a.m.: At least seven civilians were transported to the hospital and a handful treated with no transports, all minor injuries, MEDIC says.

BREAKING UPDATE 3:45 a.m.: Dozens of protesters are breaking into the Walmart on North Tryon Street. They started running away once police and SWAT arrived.

3:15 a.m.: SWAT is moving protesters up the hill off I-85, building a line, using flash grenades.

3:10 a.m.: From Chopper 9, it appears the protesters have moved off the interstate and traffic is moving.

3 a.m.: Police are using the PA system to tell protesters they are getting ready to "forcibly remove people."

2:30 a.m.: Protesters have blocked I-85, lighting fires from boxes on looted trucks.

Reporter Joe Bruno spoke with the trucker stuck inside as looters stole from her truck.

She was carrying car parts and heading to Greensboro and is now fearing for her life.

"I understand they want to make a statement, but they are hurting innocent people trying to make a living," the woman told Bruno.

She repeatedly asked Bruno where police are while she's trapped inside as people destroy her truck and cargo.

2:15 a.m.: Protesters are looting from a truck stuck in traffic.

1:40 a.m.: Protesters walked onto Interstate 85 blocking both directions at Harris Boulevard.

UPDATE 1:20 a.m.: Two more civilians transported with minor injuries to CMC University, MEDIC says.

UPDATE 1:15 a.m.: Five more transported from demonstration scene. Additional treated on scene. All non-life threatening injuries, MEDIC says.

UPDATE 1:15 a.m.: Protests are happening about 1 ½ miles from UNC-Charlotte. Campus police are aware and say campus is secure at the time.

UPDATE 12:30 a.m.: TRAFFIC ALERT: W.T. Harris Boulevard at Old Concord Road shut down because of protests.

UPDATE 12:25 a.m.: CMPD tweeted, “Approximately 12 officers injured. One officer hit in face with a rock.”

UPDATE 12:15 a.m.: Medical personnel are gearing up with more resources, MEDIC tweeted.

TUESDAY

UPDATE 11:50 p.m.: Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts tweeted: “I will continue to work with our manager & Chief on officer involved shooting. We are reaching out to community to ask for calm

The community deserves answers and full investigation will ensue. Will be reaching out to community leaders to work together”

UPDATE 11:40 p.m.: CMPD tweeted “several officers injured tonight working to protect our community during demonstration.”

UPDATE: 11 p.m.: Officers deploy tear gas into crowd and protesters targeted police cruisers. One was towed away.

UPDATE 10:50 p.m.: A CMPD officer has sustained non life-threatening injuries in an attempt to deescalate agitators during demonstration, CMPD tweeted.

UPDATE: 10:15 p.m. Chopper 9 arrived over the protest

UPDATE 10 p.m.: The member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department that was involved in the shooting has been identified as Officer Brentley Vinson, police said.

As is standard procedure with any officer involved shooting, Vinson has been placed on paid administrative leave, police said in a news release.  Vinson has been employed with the CMPD since July 21, 2014 and is currently assigned to the Metro Division.

The deceased man has been identified as Keith Lamont Scott. His family has been notified of his death.

UPDATE 9 p.m.: Protesters continue to block Old Concord Road. Police in riot gear are on the scene on standby as a group of protesters continue chanting and block a police cruiser from moving.

UPDATE 8 p.m.: A large crowd gathered Tuesday night after police said an officer shot an armed man in northeast Charlotte.

The protesters blocked off the road at about 8 p.m.

The officer involved in the deadly shooting is African-American, as well as the man who was shot and killed, a police source said.

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are conducting an investigation of the officer-involved shooting that occurred in the 9600 block of Old Concord Road in the University City Division.

Officers were at The Village at College Downs Tuesday at about 4 p.m., searching for a suspect who had an outstanding warrant, Police Department officials said in a press release.

Officers saw a vehicle in the apartment complex.

A man, not the suspect police were searching for, exited the vehicle armed with a firearm and got back into the vehicle. Officers then approached the man. The man got back out of the vehicle armed with a firearm and posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers, who shot the man, CMPD said.

The officers immediately requested medical help and began performing CPR, police said.

The man was taken to Carolinas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The identity of the dead man and the officer involved will be released pending family notification.

Detectives recovered the firearm the man had been holding at the time of the shooting at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

Family members of the man shot to death said he did not have a gun, but instead had a book in his hand and was waiting for his son to be dropped off from school.

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