1 dead in officer-involved shooting in N.C., protesters gather at scene

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Protesters gathered Tuesday night after police said an officer shot an armed man in northeast Charlotte, North Carolina.

Police in riot gear were on standby as a group of protesters are chanting and blocking a police cruiser from moving.

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are conducting an investigation of the officer-involved shooting that occurred near The Village at College Downs.

The officer that was involved in the shooting has been identified as Officer Brentley Vinson.  As is standard procedure with any officer involved shooting, Vinson has been placed on paid administrative leave.  Vinson has been employed with the CMPD since July 21, 2014.

The deceased man has been identified as Keith Lamont Scott. His family has been notified of his death.

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Prior to the shooting, officers had been seeking for a suspect who had an outstanding warrant, Police Department officials said in a press release.

Officers saw a vehicle in the apartment complex. 
 
A man, not the suspect police were searching for, exited the vehicle with a firearm and then got back inside. Officers then approached the man. The man got out of the vehicle again with the gun and posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers, who shot the man, CMPD says.

The officers immediately requested medical help and began performing CPR, police said.
 
The man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 
 
The identity of the dead man and the officer involved will be released pending family notification.

Detectives recovered a firearm at the scene that they said the man had been holding when he was shot.

Relatives of the dead man said he did not have a gun, but instead had a book in his hand and was waiting for his son to be dropped off from school.

The community later gathered in the streets chanting, "Hands up, don't shoot."

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said one officer was injured during the protest Tuesday night. They said the officer had non-life-threatening injuries.

At one point, officers used tear gas to help disperse the protesters.

Protesters could be seen damaging Charlotte-Mecklenburg police cruisers as they made their way through the streets.

Please check back for updates.

Cox Media Group