WASHINGTON — A North Carolina police chief has announced he has decided to release police bodycam and dash cam video footage of Tuesday’s police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte.
Chief Kerr Putney of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department didn’t immediately say when the footage would be made public but said he had decided the release would not hinder an ongoing investigation of the shooting.
He said he had determined recently that releasing footage would have “no adverse impact on the investigation.” He also added physical evidence would be released.
Putney said the man killed by one of their officers “absolutely” had a gun when he was shot.
He told reporters during a news conference on Saturday that the video supports the way he originally characterized Scott.
Police have said they shot Scott on Tuesday because he refused commands to drop a handgun. Residents have said he was unarmed.
Community activists have been for days calling on Putney to release body cam and dashcam video of the shooting. Putney has said he wants to be transparent but also won’t compromise his investigation.
Scott’s family has viewed the videos and has called on Putney to release them to the public.
Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
