Protests erupted overnight in Charlotte, North Carolina after a police officer fatally shot 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. The Charlotte Mecklenberg Police Department said officers, including officer Brentley Vinson, were at The Village at College Downs apartment complex on Old Concord Road to serve a warrant. Authorities didn't suspect Scott of committing a crime, according to Refinery29.

Charlotte Mecklenberg police chief Kerr Putney said in a September 21 press conference that Scott posed an immediate threat to officers when he allegedly exited his car with a gun.

"The officers gave loud, clear, verbal commands which were also heard by many of the witnesses," Putney said. "Mr. Scott exited his vehicle armed with a handgun as the officers continued to yell at him to drop it."

Vinson, who'd been on the police force for two years, fired his weapon at Scott. Putney claimed that the officer then provided CPR, though the victim later died in Carolinas Medical Center.

The chief said the events unfolded in a matter of seconds.

Witnesses are refuting the officer's testimony.

Lyric Scott, who is reportedly the victim's daughter, posted a now-deleted Facebook Live video that refuted the police department's claim that her father had a weapon.

She said officers approached her disabled father while he sat in his car reading a book. The gunfire woke Scott's daughter from a nap. She said in the video that she learned of her father's death on the news.

Scott's brother said the victim was sitting in the car waiting for his son to be dropped off by a school bus. He also claimed the officers were dressed in plain clothes.

"[The officer] just jumped out and yelled 'gun' and shot at him," he told news reporters. "I think he shot him four times."

Chief Putney said authorities uncovered no book at the scene, but did retrieve a weapon.

North Carolina is an open-carry state.

Open carry states allows residents to legally tote firearms. North Carolina is one of 45 states that has this law.

However, as Vox points out, open carry laws don't prevent officers and courts from deeming shootings unjustifiable. Attorney and gun rights advocate David Kopel told Vox that officers shouldn't be able to shoot those carrying guns in open carry states.

"Let's say there's no open carry," Kopel said. "The officer has every right to intervene, to arrest, and so forth. But that doesn't mean you can shoot the guy." 

Overnight, protests overran Charlotte's streets. Officers fired tear gas around 10:53 pm ET after police officers claimed 16 of their own were injured.

"The extent of injuries varied, but all are minor enough that they would be released," Putney said of the hurt cops.

Given the complications of this case, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is demanding the release of dashcam videos.

"In the interest of transparency and accountability, and particularly in light of conflicting accounts about the shooting, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department should quickly release any and all footage it has of the events leading up to the shooting, as well as the shooting itself," the ACLU said in a statement. "The department should also explain why the officer who shot Mr. Scott was not wearing a body camera."

Officer Vinson, who's currently on paid administrative leave, wasn't wearing a body camera, but three other officers on the scene were, according to NBC News. It is unclear when those videos will be released to the public.

House Bill 972, a new North Carolina law, protects departments from releasing body camera footage in the public interest. The bill, which takes effect October 1, requires a court order to release body camera footage. 

The ACLU called the bill "disgraceful" in a statement about Scott's shooting.

"As we seen elsewhere, video footage of police shootings can provide crucial evidence of what took place — especially when there are conflicting accounts from police and community members," they said. "Charlotte should set an example for North Carolina by releasing footage of the shooting promptly before the obstacles imposed by the new state law take effect."

The Counted found that 193 Black men have been killed by police officers in 2016.

A photo of Keith Lamont Scott, an unarmed North Carolina resident killed by police
photo: Facebook/In Memorial of Keith Lamont Scott

Main Image: Facebook/In Memorial of Keith Lamont Scott