Charlotte police's audio of shooting confirms officers thought man had gun

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Police radio recordings from just before the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott appear to back up the accounts of Charlotte police that they were after a man with a gun.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released some police radio recordings on Thursday in response to a public records request by The Charlotte Observer.

On Saturday, Police Chief Kerr Putney released video from a dashboard camera and a body cam worn by a uniformed officer outside Keith Lamont Scott's apartment complex on Sept. 20.

That transmission confirms earlier information that officers had seen Scott with a gun and marijuana when they were at the complex trying to serve a warrant on another man.

According to the tapes, an officer is heard communicating with an officer nearby.

"Roll back to this apartment behind you. There was a guy parked next to us rolling a joint and had a gun."

Then, he gave a more precise location.

"We're back here at the other visitor parking," he said.

Officers then put on vests and returned to confront Scott, who was sitting in his SUV.

An officer notified his dispatcher 37 seconds after four shots were fired at Scott.

"We got shots fired," he radioed. "One suspect down. Lexington Court."

The dispatcher then asked whether any officers were hurt.

"All officers are 10-4," was the reply. "We got one suspect down. We need Medic."

Police also released a 911 call from a man advising police that a medic would be needed.

The State Bureau of Investigation, which is conducting the primary investigation into the case, was consulted before the tapes were released, the city police said.

Police said some information was redacted and voices altered in accordance with state law.