Charlotte officer won't be charged in shooting death of Keith Scott; video included wife's pleas
A police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina, was justified in shooting and killing Keith Lamont Scott and will not be charged in the Sept. 20 incident, a prosecutor said on Wednesday.
District Attorney R. Andrew Murray of Mecklenburg County said Scott had a loaded handgun and the officer, Brentley Vinson, feared for his life, report the New York Times, the Charlotte Observer, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) and the Washington Post.
Scott’s wife, Rakeyia, had recorded a video of the events before the shooting. She can be heard telling police, “Don’t shoot him. Don’t shoot him. He has no weapon.” But the officer can be heard saying, “Don’t shoot. Drop the gun. Drop the f—ing gun.”
Police officers initially approached Scott, who was sitting in his vehicle, because they saw him rolling what appeared to be a marijuana cigarette and they saw him raise a gun.
Murray said Scott did not comply with at least 10 police commands to drop the gun he held in his hand, though he didn’t raise it, according to the Charlotte Observer account. Scott exited the vehicle and was shot as he was backing away from the SUV with his arms at his sides. Police videos didn’t definitively establish whether Scott was armed, according to the New York Times.
When Scott was shot and fell, the gun fell close to him on the ground, Murray said. Scott’s DNA was on the grip of the gun, Murray said, and “all credible evidence” suggests he was armed. Police also recovered his ankle holster.
