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Charlotte shooting: What are both sides saying five days on?

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Keith Lamont Scott (L) and Officer Brently Vinson
Image caption,

Keith Lamont Scott (L) was shot by Officer Brently Vinson (R)

The American city of Charlotte in North Carolina has been a big talking point this week.

It's after a black man called Keith Lamont Scott was shot dead by police.

According to his daughter, he was unarmed and reading a book.

But the police say he was armed and refused to drop his gun. They've now released footage of a controversial shooting but there are still a lot of questions around what happened.

The police

Media caption,

Dashcam and bodycam footage released by the police.

A big part of the argument comes down to what Mr Scott was holding.

Police say the pictures they've released show him carrying a handgun and marijuana.

Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney has said he was "absolutely in possession of a handgun".

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

Police released a photo of a handgun that they say Mr Scott possessed

The police footage seems to show him getting out of his car and walking backwards with his hands down.

It's unclear if there is anything in his hands. Four shots are heard before he falls to the ground.

Mr Putney also said the 43-year-old had committed another crime but didn't explain what it was.

He added officers who confronted Mr Scott were carrying out surveillance when they spotted cannabis in the victim's car before seeing the gun.

He also said the bodycam footage contained "no definitive visual evidence that he [Mr Scott] had a gun and pointed it at officers", but that police were satisfied he did.

The family

Media caption,

Justin Bamberg: "It appears as though he's not aggressively moving towards law enforcement he is actually doing the opposite"

Mr Scott's family say he was carrying a book, not a gun.

In a video released by his wife, she can be heard telling officers repeatedly that he does not have a weapon.

The family's lawyer, Justin Bamberg, told reporters the police footage only raised more questions about the incident.

He said: "There is no definitive evidence in this video as to whether or not there is an object in his hand and if there is, what that object is."

What happens next?

Image source, AP
Image caption,

There have been protests in Charlotte following the shooting

The shooting is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the police have said they will also release DNA evidence.

No officers are being charged for the shooting at this stage.

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