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Thursday, 22 September 2016

Charlotte shooting: State of emergency amid protests

Protests in Charlotte
The protest began peacefully but turned violent afterwards
The North Carolina governor has declared a state of emergency in the city of Charlotte, as unrest continues over the police killing of a black man.

Violence erupted for a second night after Keith Lamont Scott was shot dead by a black officer on Tuesday. One protester is in a critical condition after a "civilian on civilian" shooting, the city said.
Police clash with protestors during demonstration in Charlotte, North Carolina, on 21 September
Four police officers were injured in the latest protests
People manoeuvre amongst tear gas in Charlotte, North Carolina during a protest on 21 September
Police used tear gas and stun grenades
Mr Scott was the third black man killed by police in a week. Such shootings have sparked huge protests recently.
Riot police in Charlotte used tear gas as they faced hundreds of protesters. The local police department said four officers were injured.
Two women embraced while looking at a police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina during a protest on 21 September
Relatives say Mr Scott was reading a book when shot, but police say he was holding a weapon

Earlier North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory said he had "initiated efforts" to deploy the national guard and highway patrol to help deal with the protests.
People gather in front of the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte, North Carolina, during a protest on 21 September
Journalists were attacked by some protesters in Charlotte on Wednesday night

The demonstrators are angry that Mr Scott, 43, was killed by police on Tuesday at a block of flats in disputed circumstances.

Police were serving an arrest warrant on another person when they say they saw Mr Scott get out of a car with a handgun. Officers say he was repeatedly told to drop his handgun before he was shot but his family say he was reading a book, as he waited for his son to be dropped off by the school bus.

Dash-cam footage of the incident will be viewed by Charlotte's mayor but not released to the public "at that time", the city said.