New York Times releases cellphone video of Keith Lamont Scott shooting


The New York Times on Friday released a cellphone video of the Tuesday shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old black man killed by a police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Times obtained the video, which was recorded by Scott's wife Rakeyia Scott, from the family's lawyers. The video does not show the shooting itself, but records the moments immediately preceding it as Rakeyia pleads with police: "Don't shoot him. Don't shoot him. He has no weapon." The video then captures the sound of the gunfire and Rakeyia asking, "Did you shoot him? Did you shoot him? He better not be f---ing dead. He better not be f---ing dead... He better be alive."
(Readers who wish to watch the video or read the transcript can do so at The New York Times, here).
A lawyer representing the Scott family said the footage does not prove whether or not the shooting was justified, but rather offers "another vantage point." Police say the officer opened fire after Scott emerged from his car armed with a gun, and only fired after Scott disregarded multiple requests to drop his weapon. Scott's family says he did not have a gun, but rather was holding a book in his hand, and says Scott was waiting for his son to come home from school. Police say they seized a handgun from the scene.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
During protests over Scott's death later Tuesday, one demonstrator and more than a dozen police officers were injured. Protests continued through Thursday night, though Thursday's protests were notably more peaceful than the demonstrations earlier in the week.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
The new Gwada negative blood type
Under The Radar Rare discovery means a woman is the only person on the planet who's compatible solely with herself
-
June 29 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the AI genie, Iran saving face, and bad language bombs
-
A tall ship adventure in the Mediterranean
The Week Recommends Sailing aboard this schooner and exploring Portugal, Spain and Monaco is a 'magical' experience
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulder
speed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack
-
2 Israel Embassy staff shot dead at DC Jewish museum
speed read The suspected gunman chanted 'free, free Palestine'
-
Bombing of fertility clinic blamed on 'antinatalist'
speed read A car bombing injured four people and damaged a fertility clinic and nearby buildings in Palm Springs, California
-
Suspect charged after 11 die in Vancouver car attack
Speed Read Kai-Ji Adam Lo drove an SUV into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival