The controversy following the shooting death of Keith Scott by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police is ongoing and still producing more questions concerning officers’ actions that day. Scott was killed by plainclothes officer Brently Vinson, who was not wearing a bodycam, unlike other officers. It is now being reported that an officer at the scene may have violated police policy in the use of the bodycam.
Police policy states that as soon as an officer arrives at the scene, the camera is to be activated. However, one officer did not activate his bodycam until after Scott was shot. At least 30 seconds of audio and possible evidence is now missing because the unidentified officer’s device was in “buffer mode.” The company that makes the bodycam device has stated that the bodycam is constantly recording, but only saves 30 seconds of video at a time while it is not turned on. Video released from the shooting cannot definitively show if Scott had a gun, which police are claiming. Family members of the victim claim that he was not a threat to officers when he was shot.
In addition, it is now being revealed that the gun found at the scene was reported stolen. According to police sources, an unidentified burglar claims he stole the gun during a home robbery at an unspecified date before the shooting. The man also claims that he sold the stolen weapon to Scott. Police have not released any information about the man accused of stealing the gun and how or when he sold it to Scott. A police source confirmed to media that the gun reportedly found near the body of Keith Scott had his fingerprints, DNA and blood on it and was loaded.
Police were serving an arrest warrant unrelated to Scott when he was observed rolling what appeared to be a marijuana “blunt.”
