The fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparked violent protests and fires in Charlotte. But it’s certainly not the first time Charlotte-area police have been criticized for their use of deadly force.
Here’s a look at Charlotte’s recent history of controversial police shootings:
Keith Lamont Scott
Date of death: September 20, 2016
Date of death: September 20, 2016
What happened: Scott was sitting in his car in an apartment complex parking lot when police arrived. They were trying to locate another man to serve a warrant, officials said. Scott got out of his car “armed with a firearm and posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers,” police said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Brentley Vinson, who is also black, shot and killed Scott.
Scott’s family gave a different account. Daughter Lyric Scott said in a Facebook Live video that her father was disabled and was reading a book in his car.
Putney said officers did not find a book at the scene, and Scott family attorney Justin Bamberg later conceded Scott was armed but said there was no evidence the gun was in his hand when he was shot. Vinson was not wearing a body camera.
The aftermath: Several hundred protesters rallied, chanting “Black lives matter.” Some also blocked Interstate 85 and started a fire in the middle of the highway. Others threw rocks and bottles at police.
On Wednesday, the Rev. B.J. Murphy of the Nation of Islam called for “an economic boycott of the whole city Charlotte. Since black lives do not matter for this city, then our black dollars shouldn’t matter.”
Vinson was put on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, and in December 2016, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Andrew Murray declined to press charges against Vinson, saying officers told Scott 10 times to drop his weapon before Vinson shot him. More protests ensued.
Daniel Harris
Date of death: August 18, 2016
What happened: Harris, who was deaf and speech-impaired, was driving on Interstate 485 near Charlotte when a trooper tried to pull him over for speeding, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.
Harris did not stop, but instead drove to his Charlotte neighborhood, highway patrol Sgt. Michael Baker said. After that, he said, Harris “exited his vehicle, and an encounter took place between the driver and the trooper,” leading to the shooting.
The aftermath: Both Baker and Special Agent Audria Bridges of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation declined to answer CNN’s questions about whether Harris was armed.
The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office said it will evaluate the case after law enforcement finishes its investigation.
Jonathan Ferrell
Date of death: September 14, 2013
Date of death: September 14, 2013
What happened: Ferrell was involved in an accident so severe he had to escape through the back window of his car, family attorney Chris Chestnut said.
Ferrell walked to the home of Sarah McCartney, who said she called 911 after hearing someone banging loudly on her door.
Dashcam video released later at the trial appeared to show Ferrell walking toward officers; he quickly begins running toward police as lights hit his chest.
Someone shouts, “Get on the ground!” three times, and shots are heard.
Prosecutors said Ferrell started to run because he was afraid for his life after another officer pointed a Taser at him.
The defense attorney for Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officer Randall Kerrick said Ferrell became aggressive, pounding his thighs and taunting Kerrick, saying, “Shoot me! Shoot me!” The video didn’t show either event.
The video didn’t show either event.
The aftermath: Kerrick was charged with felony voluntary manslaughter, but his trial ended in a mistrial after jurors couldn’t reach a decision.
Afterward, Charlotte officials settled with the officer for $180,000.
The city also agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle a civil lawsuit by Ferrell’s family.
CNN’s Faith Karimi, Steve Almasy, Jason Hanna and Khushbu Shah contributed to this report.