No less than 12 police officers were injured in a clash with protesters in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday evening.
This was after police officer, Brentley Vinson, shot Keith Scott, 43, who was mistaken to be the man that the law enforcers were hunting earlier. Both Vinson and Scott are black.
Police department spokesperson Keith Tritely said the officers rounded up an apartment complex around 4 p.m. They had with them an outstanding warrant as they searched for a suspect.
They spotted Scott, who was then sitting in a car, going out with a gun. He returned inside shortly after. When the officers went near him, Scott got out of the car holding the gun, Trietley added.
The police officers thought that he was a threat and this prompted Vinson to fire a weapon.
Scott, who has seven children, was brought to Carolinas Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
The story from the police contradicts the statement of Scott's family who said that the man was actually disabled and was just inside the car with a book on his hand.
According to The Guardian, Scott's daughter, Lyric, was heard shouting to investigators not to plant a gun inside her father's car. A video on this has been posted on Facebook.
Scott's sister tells media that her brother has no gun and that "he sits in the shade, reads his book and waits on his kid to get off the bus."
The Telegraph reported that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department claimed demonstrators were destructing police vehicles. About 12 officers were injured, with one being hit by a rock on his face.
Jennifer Roberts, mayor of Charlotte, called everyone to stay calm as full investigation is being done.
Vinson, who has been with the local police department for two years, is now placed on administrative leave.
