Protests Continue In Charlotte With Minimal Violence; Police Arrest Suspect In Protest-Related Death

Following two nights of protests and violence over the police killing of a black man in Charlotte, North Carolina, protesters took to the streets again Thursday night and into Friday morning while remaining mostly peaceful. Meanwhile, police announced that they made an arrest in the killing of a man who died after Wednesday night's protests.

Though police had set a curfew beginning Thursday for the hours between midnight and 6 a.m., officials decided not to enforce it due to the absence of violence. Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency in the city after the second night of protests led to injuries and arrests. The city said that the curfew would stay in place until the state of emergency declaration is lifted.

Late Thursday morning, officials announced they have charged a man named Rayquan Borum in the death of Justin Carr, who was shot during the Wednesday night protests in what officials called a "civilian vs civilian" incident and who died Thursday.

The protests erupted after the police killing of Keith Lamont Scott, a black man who was shot in the course of an investigation of reports of a crime he was not involved in. Police say he was holding a gun at the time he was shot and posed a threat to the officers, but his family and the protesters have expressed doubts about the official story.

City officials have shown a video of the shooting to Scott's family. The family's lawyer has said that the video is unclear.

"It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands," attorney Justin Bamberg said.

Police Chief Kerr Putney admitted even before the family saw the video that it did not definitively prove the officers' story.

Many protesters have demanded that the video be released publicly, an demand that Scott's family supports. Though Putney has indicated that he is against the idea, Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said Friday morning she wants everyone to see the recording, according to CNN.

State investigators have taken over the case of Scott's killing, the Charlotte police department announced today.

Despite the largely calm nature of the demonstrations Thursday night, two police officers were reportedly sprayed with a "chemical agent" by protesters and had to be treated by emergency services personnel.

Republican U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger of North Carolina added fuel to the fire Thursday when he said that the black protesters were envious of whites.

"The grievance in their mind, the animus, the anger — they hate white people because white people are successful and they’re not," he said on BBC Newsnight.

These remarks were heavily criticized by the state's Democratic party. Pittenger later apologized for the comments.

Photo credit: CMPD