Contradictory accounts emerge on police shooting of U.S. black man

Police in Charlotte, the U.S. state of North Carolina, said on Wednesday a black man, shot dead by a police on Tuesday, was armed and ignored multiple warnings to drop his gun.

The claim by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney was in direct contradiction to accounts of the shooting by the victim's family and protesters.

Speaking at a press conference, Putney said that 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott did not hold a book, as claimed by Scott's family and the protesters, when he exited the vehicle.

"Officers were giving loud, clear verbal commands," said Putney. "The suspect exited the vehicle with a handgun, threatening officers."

While the black plainclothes officer who shot dead Scott was not wearing a body camera, Putney said three other uniformed officers were equipped with body cameras.

However, Putney said he could not release any footage recorded by other officers' body cameras because of the ongoing investigation, a claim soon disputed by a local civil rights group.

According to a statement by the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, a new North Carolina law, which will prevent law enforcement agencies from releasing body camera footage without a court order, does not take effect till Oct. 1, 2016.

"What we already know is that far too many people of color are victims of wrongful targeting and excessive use of force by law enforcement officers across the country, and last night we were once again harshly reminded that North Carolina is not immune to that reality," said the statement. Endit