No Charges For Charlotte Officer Who Shot Armed Felon Keith Scott

This really should not come as a surprise to anyone with a basic grasp of the laws of self defense and police use of force, but Charlotte police officer Brently Vinson has been exonerated in the fatal shooting of Keith Scott, a felon who refused to drop the stolen Colt Mustang II .380 pistol in his hand.

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Mecklenburg County District Attorney Andrew Murray announced Wednesday that he will not press charges against the police officer who fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott in September.

Scott’s family met with prosecutors Wednesday morning before the decision was announced during a lengthy news conference.

Murray detailed many facts of the case before announcing his decision that Officer Brently Vinson would not face charges.

The 43-year-old Scott was sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot of his Charlotte apartment complex when he was shot by police trying to find a different man.

Police body camera video showed officers shouting for Scott to drop a gun numerous times as he slowly backed out of an SUV. Scott’s family said he did not have a gun and was reading a book.

The shooting, part of which was recorded by his wife and shared widely on social media, caused days of violent protests and a state of emergency to be declared in Charlotte.

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