The Latest: Doubts follow release of police shooting video

The Latest: Doubts follow release of police shooting video


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on protests in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the fatal police shooting of a black man (all times local):

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8:25 p.m.

An attorney for the family of a man shot by Charlotte police says newly released footage from authorities doesn't show a gun in the man's hand.

Justin Bamberg told reporters on Saturday night that the dashcam and body camera footage released on Saturday leaves more questions unanswered than it provides clarity. He also said that Keith Lamont Scott's delay in getting out of his vehicle doesn't justify his death.

Protesters have been clamoring for the videos since the shooting of Scott by Charlotte police. Officers have said Scott had a gun, according to a police statement. Authorities on Saturday released photographs of a handgun and a holster they said was recovered from the scene.

Ray Dotch identified himself as Scott's brother-in-law. He objected to reporters' questions about Scott's background, saying he shouldn't have to "humanize him in order for him to be treated fairly."

"What we know and what you should know about him is that he was an American citizen who deserved better," he added.

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8 p.m.

Charlotte's mayor says she fully supports the release of police shooting videos.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts said in a statement released Saturday night that she backs up the decision made by Police Chief Kerr Putney on the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

Roberts has been saying for several days she thought the dashcam and body camera footage should be released. At a news conference on Friday, Roberts reiterated that stance but said that the only question was "timing."

Roberts also said she has asked the U.S. Department of Justice "to be available to address any potential civil rights concerns."

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7:30 p.m.

Charlotte police have released a narrative of what they say happened in the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

The department said in an update released late Saturday that two plainclothes officers were preparing to arrest someone else when they saw Scott sitting in an SUV, rolling a marijuana blunt.

Officers say they weren't concerned about the drugs until they noticed that Scott had a gun with him, according to police. But after an officer "observed Mr. Scott hold a gun up," police put on marked vests to identify themselves as officers, police added.

The officers say they identified themselves as police and gave Scott orders to drop the gun, adding he refused. A uniformed officer tried to use a baton to break out a window on Scott's SUV, the narrative states.

Police say the man got out of the SUV, with the gun, and backed away while ignoring the demands to drop it.

Perceiving Scott's actions as an "imminent physical threat," Officer Brentley Vinson fired his weapon at Scott, according to the statement. Both Vinson and Scott are black.

Police say detectives interviewed witnesses, who confirmed that Scott hadn't complied with officers' demands.

The report also says forensic examination shows Scott's DNA and fingerprints on the loaded gun retrieved from the scene and that Scott was wearing an ankle holster.

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7 p.m.

Newly released police footage shows more details of how the fatal shooting of a black man unfolded.

Dashboard camera video shows two officers pointing their guns at Keith Lamont Scott, who is inside an SUV with the doors closed and windows rolled up.

Scott gets out, starts walking backward, and then four shots ring out. His wife's voice is audible as she yells both at him and at officers. It's unclear if there's anything in the man's hands.

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.

When Scott comes into view, he has his hands at his side and is standing outside of his car. The body camera footage doesn't show the moment the shots are fired, and Scott next comes into view already on the ground.

Audio in the body camera footage can't be heard until after Scott is on the ground.

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6:45 p.m.

Charlotte police have released body and dashboard camera footage of the fatal shooting of black man.

A file sent to the media Saturday also includes pictures of a handgun and marijuana that police say Keith Lamont Scott possessed.

The shooting of Scott on Tuesday has prompted several days of demonstrations that coalesced around protesters' demands that police video be seen by the public.

Police have said Scott was shot on Tuesday because he refused commands to drop a handgun. Residents have said he was unarmed.

Police Chief Kerr Putney said at a news conference Saturday that Scott "absolutely" had a gun but that it's not shown in his hand in the videos. Putney said the video supports other evidence that all must be considered together.

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5:10 p.m.

North Carolina. Gov. Pat McCrory says he supports the decision to release police video recordings showing the shooting of a black man.

McCrory said in a statement Saturday that he supported the decision of Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney. McCrory also said he had been assured by state investigators that the release wouldn't have an impact on their probe into the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

McCrory's statement came minutes before Putney held a news conference saying he would release dashcam and body camera video of the shooting.

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5:05 p.m.

Charlotte's police chief says officers were trying to serve a warrant on someone else but then spotted the man they ultimately shot and killed.

Chief Kerr Putney told reporters on Saturday that officers saw marijuana and a weapon in Keith Lamont Scott's car and said, "uh oh, this is a safety issue for us and the public."

Putney is releasing dashcam and body cam video on Saturday to the public.

Police have said Scott was shot on Tuesday because he refused commands to drop a handgun. Residents have said he was unarmed. Putney says Scott "absolutely" had a gun but that it's not shown in his hand in the videos.

"At every encounter, people can make a decision to follow loud, verbal commands. They (officers) were reacting to what they saw and they have a duty to do so," Putney said.

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.

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5 p.m.

Charlotte police say the man killed by one of their officers "absolutely" had a gun when he was shot.

Chief Kerr Putney told reporters during a news conference on Saturday that the video he's releasing to the public supports the way he originally characterized the shooting of Keith Lamont 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.

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4:45 p.m.

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 a black man 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.

"These are tough times for our city and we're going to get through it," he added.

Community activists have been for days calling on Putney to release body cam and dashcam video of the shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. 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.

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4 p.m.

Charlotte police say they are planning to release a statement on the shooting of a black man by police.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says in a news release that Chief Kerr Putney will make a statement at 4:30 p.m. The release did not say that Putney would take questions.

Community activists have been for days calling on Putney to release body cam and dashcam video of the shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. 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.

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3:45 p.m.

The president of the North Carolina NAACP says federal authorities are investigating the police shooting of a black man in Charlotte. But the U.S. Justice Department told The Associated Press on Saturday that it has not opened a probe into the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

At a rally Saturday afternoon, the Rev. Corine Mack said an official investigation was underway into the shooting, which happened earlier this week.

Later Saturday, the Justice Department reiterated comments made Thursday by Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who said the department was continuing the monitor the case.

Police say Scott refused repeated commands to drop a gun. The department has not released body camera and dashcam footage.

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3 p.m.

Hundreds of demonstrators in Charlotte have taken their protest to the police department.

Many of the hundreds who gathered Saturday afternoon chanted "Keith Scott," the name of the black man shot to death earlier this week by police.

Protesters had gathered earlier in the day, marching through the streets of a city on edge after Scott's shooting death. The demonstrations reached a violent crescendo on Wednesday before the National Guard was called in Thursday to maintain order.

The next two nights of protests were free of property damage and violence, with organizers stressing a message of peace at the end of the week.

Many demonstrators have demanded police release body camera and dashcam video of Scott's shooting. On Saturday, the crowd chanted, "No tapes, no peace."

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2 p.m.

Music and peaceful attitudes are dominating a rally of several hundred in a park near Charlotte's police department.

Speakers and singers at the Saturday afternoon gathering have spoken out against incidents of police violence across the country. Organizer Femi Shittu welcomed those in attendance "with all of their righteous anger" before an acoustic musical duo took the makeshift stage.

Saturday marked the fifth day of rallies in this southern banking capital since a black man was shot by police earlier in the week. The demonstrations reached a violent crescendo on Wednesday before the National Guard was called in Thursday to maintain order.

The next two nights of protests were free of property damage and violence, with organizers stressing a message of peace at the end of the week.

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1 p.m.

Several dozen people have gathered at a Charlotte park located just blocks away from the city's police department for a rally and march.

People wore shirts that say "black lives matter" and "support the Charlotte movement" while they waited for speakers to take a makeshift stage in front of a fountain. Two women walked around offering to register people to vote. Others offered bottles of water.

Saturday marked the fifth day of rallies since a black man was shot by police earlier in the week. The demonstrations reached a violent crescendo on Wednesday before the National Guard was called in Thursday to maintain order.

The next two nights of protests were free of property damage and violence, with organizers stressing a message of peace at the end of the week.

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10 a.m.

The mother of a man shot and killed during violent protests in Charlotte says her son's death has helped others live through the donation of his organs.

Vivian Carr spoke out at a church service on Friday night. WBTV reports (http://bit.ly/2dibjE1) that the mother told a group gathered at Our Lady of Consolation Church that her son Justin was a peaceful person and that several people received his heart, lungs and liver.

Justin Carr was shot during rioting in downtown Charlotte on Wednesday night following unrest over the police shooting of a black man, 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. Carr died the next day at a hospital, and a man has been arrested in his death.

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12:30 a.m.

Charlotte police say they don't plan to forcibly remove protesters from the street after curfew as long as the situation remains peaceful.

Capt. Mike Campagna says in a CNN interview that the midnight curfew is a tool the police can use if it becomes necessary, but they hope that won't be the case.

Campagna says people inside the group of demonstrators helped keep things peaceful Thursday, the third night of protests after an officer fatally shot a black man. He says community members intervened with aggressors after seeing the need when protests became violent Wednesday night.

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12:05 a.m. Saturday

A curfew has taken effect in Charlotte with demonstrators still on the street.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed documents Thursday night to put in effect a curfew from midnight until 6 a.m.

After midnight, dozens of protesters continued to march and chant in the city's business district.

Officers didn't appear to be trying to arrest people or force them off the streets several minutes after midnight passed.

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10:50 p.m.

Protesters in Charlotte who spilled onto an interstate highway are being pushed back by police officers in riot gear.

After peacefully circling the city's business district for several hours, several dozen demonstrators climbed onto Interstate 277 and stood in the middle of the highway.

A line of police officers with shields and face masks advanced on the protesters, and many dispersed and climbed back up embankments off the road.

Thursday marked the third night of protests after a shooting earlier in the week of a black man by police in Charlotte.

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9:45 p.m.

Charlotte's mayor is imposing a curfew starting at midnight after three nights of protests.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts told reporters Thursday night that she had signed documents to impose a curfew that will run from midnight to 6 a.m.

She expects it to be in place for multiple days until officials determine they no longer need it.

The city's government issued a Tweet saying the curfew is citywide.

Protesters took to the streets for a third night but were largely peaceful Thursday. Two previous nights of chaotic protests included injuries, one death arrests and vandalism.

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8:40 p.m.

Hundreds of protesters are marching through the heart of Charlotte's business district.

The protesters stopped for about 15 minutes to chant and block an intersection near Bank of America's headquarters. They then moved on as police and members of the National Guard monitored them.

The demonstration that began about 7:30 p.m. at a park has so far been peaceful.

The crowd includes curious onlookers who emerged from hotels and office buildings to take pictures.

The business district, known locally as uptown, has been on edge Thursday after two nights of chaotic protests that included vandalism and injuries.

The protests stem from the fatal shooting this week of a black many police.

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8: 20 p.m.

A North Carolina congressman says that people are protesting in Charlotte because they "hate white people."

U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, a Republican whose district includes parts of Charlotte, was asked by an interviewer for Britain's BBC TV what grievance the protesters have.

In the video posted online Thursday, Pittenger responded: "The grievance in their mind is — the animus, the anger — they hate white people because white people are successful and they're not."

He later released a statement apologizing and saying that his anguish over the situation led him to give a response he regretted.

Chaotic protests broke out Tuesday and Wednesday in Charlotte after a black man was shot to death by a police officer.

The North Carolina Democratic Party released a statement saying Pittenger's remarks were inexcusable and racist.

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8 p.m.

Charlotte police say the man shot in the head during Wednesday night's protests near a downtown hotel has died.

Police spokesman Keith Trietley says in a news release that 26-year-old Justin Carr died Thursday at the hospital.

Carr was shot as protesters clashed with police in riot gear lined arm-in-arm protecting the Omni Hotel about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. City officials say Carr was not shot by an officer.

Police Chief Kerr Putney says the detectives are determined to find who fired the fatal shots. No arrests have been made.

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7:50 p.m.

The lawyer for relatives of a black man killed by Charlotte police says he couldn't tell after watching police video if the man had anything in his hands when he was shot.

Keith Scott's family was shown the dashboard and body camera footage by police Thursday.

After viewing it, attorney Justin Bamberg said in a statement they want the video released to the public immediately. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney has said he won't release the video while a criminal investigation continues.

Bamberg says Scott is seen in the video calmly exiting his vehicle Tuesday and while police give him several commands, he does not approach officers. Bamberg says Scott's hands were by his side and he was slowly walking backward when he was shot

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7:35 p.m.

About 100 protesters have gathered at a park in uptown Charlotte, launching a third night of demonstrations over the fatal shooting of a black man by a black police officer.

With dwindling daylight, the protesters formed a circle and chanted several slogans, including "We believe that we will win." Some of them wrapped bandanas around their faces to protect themselves from tear gas.

About 50 feet away, about a dozen Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers sat on bicycles observing the protesters.

Camouflage Humvees carrying National Guard members are patrolling downtown interspersed with civilian vehicles. Guard members with fatigues and rifles walked through a plaza near the headquarters of Bank of America.

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6:45 p.m.

The attorney for relatives of a black man shot to death by Charlotte police says the family has seen police videos of his killing.

Lawyer Justin Bamberg tells television crews he would not detail what they saw. Bamberg says: "There are some things to digest."

Members of Keith Scott's family didn't talk to reporters as they quickly left Charlotte's police headquarters Thursday afternoon.

Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney said earlier Thursday he won't release the body and dashboard camera video while the criminal investigation into Tuesday's shooting continues.

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4:15 p.m.

An attorney for relatives of a black man shot and killed by an officer in Charlotte says the victim's wife "saw him get shot and killed."

Attorney Justin Bamberg spoke Thursday on behalf of the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott during a news conference. He says the family was not present because they were still grieving.

Bamberg said: "My understanding is that his wife saw him get shot and killed. That's something she will never, ever forget."

He did not give other details about what the wife saw.

Bamberg says the family will view police video of the shooting later Thursday.

It is not clear when, or if, dash and body camera video of the shooting might be publicly released.

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3:55 p.m.

An attorney for relatives of a black man shot and killed by an officer in Charlotte says the family will view police video of the shooting later Thursday.

Attorney Justin Bamberg spoke on behalf of the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott during a news conference. The family was not present, he says, because they were still grieving.

He says they don't know what's on the video, only what law enforcement says on the video.

Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney has said that Scott refused commands to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. Putney also says the video does not definitively show whether Scott pointed the gun at anyone.

It is not clear when, or if, dash and body camera video of the shooting might be publicly released.

The attorney says the family wants to know the truth but worries about the emotional impact if the video is released.

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3:10 p.m.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory says he supports the Charlotte police chief's position that body and dashcam video of the deadly police shooting of a black man shouldn't be released to the public while the investigation continues.

At a news conference Thursday, McCrory said he hadn't changed his mind about a law he signed that will make it harder for police shooting videos to be released starting next month.

McCrory spoke as officials try to head off another day of protests stemming from the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. Police say he refused to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. McCrory says he expects less chaos in Charlotte because the National Guard and state troopers are helping Charlotte police.

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2:20 p.m.

The Congressional Black Caucus is demanding that Attorney General Loretta Lynch authorize federal intervention into the police killings of unarmed African-American men and women.

The action comes in the aftermath of the killing in Charlotte, North Carolina, of Keith Lamont Scott. Police say he refused repeated commands to drop a gun, but residents say he was unarmed.

The black lawmakers walked Thursday from the U.S. Capitol to the Justice Department to present the letter to Lynch, who was having a news conference of her own inside the building. Democratic Rep G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, the caucus's chair, said they would tell the attorney general that "enough is enough."

The letter asks for state and federal investigations, indictments and prosecutions of police officers whose actions harm or kill unarmed African-Americans.

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12:55 p.m.

A North Carolina gun-rights group says just because there's a state of emergency in Charlotte doesn't mean people there are unable to carry their concealed handgun for defense if they have a permit for one.

Grass Roots North Carolina President Paul Valone wrote Thursday in a memo to its supporters strongly advising them to carry these lawful firearms if they can't avoid being in Charlotte and surrounding Mecklenburg County. There have been two nights of violence in Charlotte stemming from the shooting of a man by a police officer.

Valone points to a 2012 federal court ruling striking down a broad state law making it a misdemeanor for people to possess or transport any dangerous weapon outside of their homes within an area where a state of emergency exists. Grass Roots was a plaintiff in the litigation.

Grass Roots counts 20,000 people among its members.

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12:05 p.m.

The chief state prosecutor in Charlotte is asking the State Bureau of Investigation to look into the shooting of a man killed by a police officer earlier this week.

District Attorney R. Andrew Murray said in a statement Thursday that he was making the request for a state investigation at the request of the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott.

Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney says he plans to show video of the shooting to the slain man's family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public.

He also said during a news conference Thursday that the video does not definitively show Scott pointing a gun at anyone, though police maintain Scott refused commands to drop the weapon.

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Noon

The family of a black man shot to death by a police officer in Charlotte is calling on protesters to be peaceful.

Reykia Scott says in a statement released Thursday that she is devastated by the death of her husband, 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, and understands people's frustrations. But Reykia Scott says hurting people or damaging property is not the answer.

The Scott family's comments come after a second night of unrest in Charlotte after the fatal shooting. Police Chief Kerry Putney told reporters Thursday he planned to show video of the shooting to Scott's family but would not immediately be releasing it to the public.

Putney says the video does not definitively show Keith Scott pointing a gun at anyone.

Police say Scott refused repeated commands to drop his gun, but residents say he was unarmed.

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11:45 a.m.

Charlotte's police chief says he sees no reason to impose a curfew in North Carolina's largest city, even after two nights of violent protests following the shooting of a man by a police officer.

Chief Kerr Putney said the city now has more resources to deal with problems, following a declaration of a state of emergency and the arrival of the North Carolina National Guard and more officers from the State Highway Patrol.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts said earlier Thursday the city was considering a curfew. She defended the decision not to seek an emergency declaration earlier, noting the city had been calm during the day Wednesday. She says the request was made at the appropriate time when more resources were needed.

Roberts again called for calm as the shooting investigation continues.

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10:55 a.m.

Charlotte's police chief says he plans to show video of an officer shooting a black man to the slain man's family, but the video won't be immediately released to the public.

Police Chief Kerr Putney said during a news conference Thursday that the video does not definitively show 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott pointing a gun at anyone.

Putney says he is working to honor the request from the family of Scott to view the video. It's unclear when or if the video might be released publicly.

The video could be key to resolving the chasm between police, who say Scott refused repeated commands to drop his gun, and residents who say he was unarmed. It's not clear what the body cameras worn by three officers who were present during the shooting may have captured.

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10:15 a.m.

Life is returning to normal on downtown streets in Charlotte despite two nights of violence.

On Thursday morning, a few uniformed police officers are walking around the area. The governor declared a state of emergency Wednesday night and called on help from the National Guard, but no Guard members were present on the street Thursday morning.

Glass and uprooted plants can be seen on the sidewalk from the protests Wednesday night.

Traffic is flowing in the area although at least three major companies asked their employees to stay home on Thursday.

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9:55 a.m.

The mayor of Charlotte says officials have no time frame for when they might release camera footage of the fatal police shooting of a black man.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts told "NPR" Thursday morning that releasing the police video "depends on the investigation and its progress, and it depends on the discretion of the chief to some extent."

Calls for police to release the video have increased along with the violent protests, but the police chief has resisted. North Carolina has a law that takes effect Oct. 1 requiring a judge to approve releasing police video, and he said he doesn't release video when a criminal investigation is ongoing.

Roberts said she hopes to watch the video Thursday or Friday. "I certainly would feel better being able to see it," she said, adding that she doesn't know how conclusive the video footage is until she watches it.

Police said the plainclothes officer who shot 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, identified as Brentley Vinson, has been placed on leave, standard procedure in such cases. Three uniformed officers at the shooting scene had body cameras; Vinson did not, police said.

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9:45 a.m.

Federal help is on the way to Charlotte after two nights of violence after the fatal police shooting of a black man.

The Justice Department is sending a team of trained peacekeepers designed to help resolve community conflict.

The department's Community Relations Service has been deployed to other cities roiled by tense flare-ups between police and residents.

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8:50 a.m.

The mayor of Charlotte says the city is considering a curfew after two nights of violence in the wake of the shooting of a black man by police.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Thursday that city officials are talking about imposing a curfew.

Streets were calm Thursday morning, but several civilians and police officers were hurt in the second night of violence Wednesday night.

City spokeswoman Ashley Simmons told local media that Roberts' office will discuss a possible curfew with city police and the National Guard on Thursday.

The mayor said she wants people to know Charlotte is open for business Thursday. But at least three major companies told workers to avoid downtown offices.

The North Carolina National Guard arrived at a Charlotte armory early Thursday and some Guard vehicles left the armory about 8 a.m.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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