State of Emergency in Charlotte: National Guard Activated Amid Night of Black Riots
Violence erupted in parts of downtown Charlotte on Wednesday as anger continued to build over the deadly police shooting of a black man and the different stories about what happened from authorities and the victim’s family and neighbors.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard after Charlotte’s police chief said he needed the help.
“Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated,” McCrory said in a statement. “I support and commend the law enforcement officials for their bravery and courage during this difficult situation.”
What started out as a prayer vigil turned into an angry march and then a night of violence after a man was shot and critically wounded as protesters charged police in riot gear trying to protect an upscale hotel. Police initially said the man had died, but later corrected the statement saying he was on life support. Police didn’t shoot the man, city officials said.
Video obtained and verified by The Associated Press, which was recorded right after the shooting, shows someone lying in a pool of blood as people scream and a voice yells for someone to call for help. People are then told to back up from the scene.
Charlotte-Macklenburg police tweeted early Thursday that at least four officers suffered non-life threatening injuries in the unrest.
Demonstrators shouted “black lives matter” and “hands up; don’t shoot” while cursing at officers with bicycles blocking intersections. As the protesters approached the Omni hotel, officers in riot gear lined up outside arm in arm and a few marchers threw bottles and clods of dirt.
Immediately after the shooting, police began firing flash grenades and protesters threw fireworks. Police then fired tear gas, and the crowd of hundreds dispersed.
But not all the marchers left. Police in riot gear then began marching arm in arm through downtown Charlotte intersections, shooting tear gas at people who charged them. At least one protester knocked down a CNN reporter during a live shot.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney defended his officers’ actions in an interview with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly on “The Kelly File.”
“We’re trying to disperse the crowd,” Putney said. “We’ve been very patient, but now they’ve become very violent.”
Officials have refused to release video of the shooting of Scott by Officer Brentley Vinson — who is also African-American — and two starkly different versions have emerged as a result. Police say Scott disregarded repeated demands to drop his gun, while neighborhood residents say he was holding a book, not a weapon, as he waited for his son to get off the school bus.
