Video of African-American man’s fatal shooting released

Because our analyst says if Scott has a gun in his right hand – and that’s what’s not clear – then the officers were obviously in danger.

That, for example, is why snipers in situations where hostages are being held at gunpoint, are trained to avoid shooting if possible, and to use precisely-aimed head shots if necessary.

In the dashboard camera video released Saturday night, Scott could be seen slowly backing away from his SUV with his hands down, and it’s not apparent if he’s holding anything. He falls to the ground after four shots are heard.

CMPD Chief Kerr Putney said he did.

One sign read “Stop police brutality” and another showed a picture of a bloody handprint with the phrase #AMINEXT, a social media tag about the fear of becoming a victim of police violence.

Police also revealed for the first time that officers had chose to confront Scott, 43, in the parking lot of his apartment complex Tuesday because they noticed, as they were preparing to serve a warrant on another person, that he was rolling a marijuana cigarette inside his SUV – and had observed him “hold a gun up”, according to a news release.

Police also released photos of a gun that they said was retrieved at the scene, adding that it contained Scott’s DNA and fingerprints.

At a news conference about an hour after the release of the videos, lawyers for the Scott family said the videos raised more questions than they answered.

Mr Scott’s family released two minutes of smartphone footage filmed by his wife, which does not show the shooting itself and does not conclusively answer the question of whether he was armed. “He’s passively stepping back”.

From a different angle, police body camera footage shows an officer approach with his gun drawn and another officer already pointing his gun at Scott.

Even the best placed shot to the chest, which is where the officers are trained to shoot, would normally not kill the suspect in time to prevent him from getting off his own shot. When Scott comes into view, his hands are at his side and he’s standing beside his SUV. Then the officer runs to the other side of the vehicle and Scott is on the ground. Scott’s family has demanded the police release the footage after viewing it on Thursday.

Police officers didn’t break the law but the State Bureau of Investigation continues to pursue the case.

“My priority has been, throughout the whole investigative process, to maintain the integrity of the investigation, because that’s essential, that’s essential in a fact finding process that leads you to the truth”, said Chief Putney.

A second body camera video from an officer does not show the moment of shooting.

Putney also said Saturday there is more video. The released photos included one of the cigarette.

The videos were released to a number of U.S. media and posted online.

The shooting incident has sparked four nights of protests in Charlotte, including two nights of violent riots on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The city has been on edge ever since Scott’s shooting death. Demonstrators on Saturday gathered for a fifth day in the city’s centre. City officials said police did not shoot 26-year-old Justin Carr.

Charlotte has become the latest flashpoint in ongoing tensions over USA police shootings of black men, a lot of them unarmed.