At least 12 officers, 5 demonstrators injured during protests in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC (WJZY) - At least twelve officers and five demonstrators were injured during protests Tuesday, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and Medic 911, after a man was shot and killed by police in University City.
CMPD tweeted that one officer was hit in the face with a rock. Agitators could be seen destroying marked police vehicles.
The Civil Emergency Unit had to be called in to disperse the crowd.
Protesters took to the streets in response to the death of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, who was shot by an officer at The Village at College Downs Apartment complex in the 9600 block of Concord Road.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, officers were searching for a suspect with an outstanding warrant when they came across a man inside a vehicle at the apartment complex. They said the man got out of the car holding a gun and then got back in the car. When officers approached, they said the man got out of the car and threatened officers.
Scott was taken to Carolinas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries where he later passed away.
CMPD identified the officer who shot Scott as Brent Vinson, who joined the force in July of 2014. Per department protocol, he has been placed on administrative leave.
While police say Scott was armed, family members paint a different picture. They tell FOX 46 Charlotte that Scott was disabled and reading a book in the vehicle while waiting to pick up a child from the school bus.
Detectives said they were able to recover the gun that Scott was holding at the time of the shooting and were in the process of interviewing witnesses.
The investigation is ongoing.