Roy Cooper calls for public release of officer-involved shooting video

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) -NC Attorney General Roy Cooper released the following statement today about the officer-involved shooting in Charlotte.  

It reads, “It has been a difficult 72 hours for Charlotte. Yesterday, I met and spoke with Mayor Roberts, faith and community leaders, law enforcement and national guard officials in Charlotte and I am deeply grateful for all the work they are doing to keep people and property safe. The question this morning is where do we go from here?

We must continue in the pursuit of the truth while also continuing the important work of bringing our communities and law enforcement together to build trust and safety for all. One step toward meeting both goals is for the videos in this case to be released to the public.

Transparency between the community and our law enforcement breaks down barriers and brings progress. As Attorney General I have witnessed first hand the honorable work that our officers do everyday and I am grateful for their hard work and sacrifice. I also know that many in our community feel disproportionately targeted and yearn to be heard and respected. Everyone is safer when there is mutual respect between law enforcement and our communities and working for that mutual respect is critical.”

Earlier, Charlotte’s mayor says she does believe video of the police shooting of a black man should be released publicly, but she says it’s a matter of when.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts said during a news conference Friday that “I do believe the video should be released. The question is on the timing.” Police Chief Kerr Putney echoed her remarks, saying the video’s release is “a matter of when, it’s a matter of sequence.”

Protesters and the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott have called on authorities to release the video, which could resolve wildly different accounts of Scott’s shooting.

Police have said Scott refused repeated commands to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. An attorney for his family, who viewed the video Thursday, says it’s not clear from the video if he’s holding anything, including a gun.