Keith Scott killing: No charges against officer

Protesters took to the streets of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday night to show their disappointment with the decision to not charge an officer in the shooting death of a black man.
A two-month investigation determined that Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officer Brentley Vinson was justified in shooting Keith Lamont Scott in an apartment complex parking lot. Mecklenburg County District Attorney Andrew Murray said he didn’t reach the conclusions alone; a total of 15 prosecutors unanimously agreed with the decision.

The killing led to heated protests and divided the city of Charlotte. Compared to previous demonstrations over Scott’s death, a smaller crowd turned out Wednesday night, about 100 people. At least four people were arrested as police tried to corral protesters off the streets, three for obstructing traffic.
But the protesters’ message was the same as before.
“Stop killing black people,” some protesters’ T-shirts read.
“How to get away with murder: Become a cop,” said the signs.
“If we don’t get no justice then you don’t get no peace,” they chanted.

In his hourlong announcement, the district attorney rejected a series of “erroneous claims” made shortly after the shooting. He said those narratives fueled widespread misconceptions about what actually happened.

Among them:
— Scott’s relatives said he didn’t have a gun, but “all the credible evidence” led to the conclusion that Scott was armed, Murray said. He said Scott’s DNA was on the grip of a gun found at the scene.
Murray also said at least three officers reported seeing Scott holding a gun before he was shot, though dashcam video did not show that detail.
— Shortly before the shooting, Scott visited a local convenience store. There, surveillance video showed a bulge around Scott’s ankle that was consistent with the holster and gun later described by officers, Murray said.

— One woman initially said a white officer killed Scott at the apartment complex — a narrative later echoed by protesters. But that woman later told investigators she didn’t actually see the shooting, Murray said.
Murray said Vinson, who is black, was the only officer who shot Scott. He said an analysis of the other officers’ guns showed those guns were fully loaded, while Vinson’s gun was missing several bullets.

— After the shooting, Scott’s daughter posted a video on Facebook Live saying her father was in his car reading a book. But the daughter also did not witness the shooting. And no book was found at the scene, Murray said.
The prosecutor said that officers told Scott at least 10 times to drop the weapon before Vinson opened fire.
Murray said that while criminal charges are not appropriate, “I know some are going to be frustrated.”

More From CNN: