Amid pressing demands from the public for increased transparency in cases involving deadly police shootings, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief Kerr Putney has finally moved to release police footage from the Sept. 20 shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, 43.
Scott was shot and killed by police Tuesday after authorities said he was armed with a gun and refused to drop his weapon. Scott’s family contends that he only had a book, not a gun, and was in his car reading while he waited for his son to return home from school. Police reportedly recovered a weapon at the scene.
Putney put off releasing the tapes until the unrest surrounding Scott’s death simmered down. His decision comes just days before a new North Carolina law requiring a judge’s approval before releasing such footage takes effect.
Scott’s wife, Rakeyia Scott, released cell phone video of her husband’s final moments Friday afternoon. The video shows police surrounding her husband and yelling at him to drop his weapon. Rakeyia can be heard telling officers that Scott recently suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and had just taken his medication.
Police can be heard firing several shots at the Charlotte man soon after.
Authorities are expected to release the videos in parts.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
