The family of Keith Lamont Scott, who was shot dead during an encounter with the police at a parking lot in North Carolina’s Charlotte, released a video of the shooting to international media houses on Friday. Wife Rakeyia Scott filmed the cellphone video from their car, reported AFP.

The video that runs for 2 minute and 16 seconds does not show the shooting, though it shows moments leading to the encounter, reported The New York Times. The video starts with Rakeyia Scott pleading with the police not to shoot her husband, reported AFP. "Don't shoot him, he has no weapon! He has no weapon! Don't shoot him!" she is heard saying in the video, even as the police are heard asking Scott to “drop the gun". According to news report, a few seconds later, four gunshots are heard and then the video shows Scott lying face down. Lawyer Justin Bamberg, who is representing the family along with Eduardo Curry, said the video did not answer any of the important questions, however, it “offered another vantage point” of the episode.

According to the police, they shot Scott after he posed a threat. They added that Scott had a gun. His wife, however, said Scott had a book in his hand. The police have refused to release their footage of the shooting, saying that it could hamper the ongoing investigation. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney said, "If I were to put it out indiscriminately and it doesn't give you good context, it can inflame the situation."

Scott’s death on September 21 triggered massive protests in Charlotte, and prompted Governor Pat McCrory to declare a state of emergency in the southern city of the United States. Hundreds of people took to the streets to protest against the police killing of the African-American man and the alleged targeting members of the community. To keep the situation under control, the authorities imposed curfew from Thursday night.

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