A pair of deadly shootings of African Americans by police officers over the past week has underlined the critical role of video evidence in resolving controversial cases and potentially preventing civil unrest. Police in North Carolina are resisting growing pressure to release video footage of the fatal shooting on Tuesday of Keith Scott, soon after recordings from the deadly shooting of Terence Crutcher in Oklahoma contradicted the initial version of events given by authorities. Asked by a reporter, following two nights of violent unrest in the city, when the public should expect the video footage to be released, Putney was defiant. Dashcam video, however, showed Crutcher with his hands in the air before being shot. Shelby has claimed through attorneys that she fired because Crutcher tried to reach into his vehicle.

Source: The Guardian September 22, 2016 17:48 UTC