Keith Lamont Scott, the man whose fatal shooting by Charlotte, North Carolina police this week sparked unrest in that city and protests nationwide, told a state district judge in Bexar County in 2005 that his family had “suffered from a tremendous amount of racism and hate crimes,” court documents say.
Scott made the statement in a motion that unsuccessfully argued for a reduction to his seven-year sentence for aggravated assault, a second-degree felony to which he had pleaded no contest under an agreement with prosecutors that reduced the charge stemming from the Sept. 17, 2002 incident from a first-degree felony.
In his sentencing, Scott told the judge he fired 10 shots at Anthony Trinidad, an acquaintance he said had threatened him and whom he feared was a thief, in self-defense. The available court records do not provide a full account of the shooting.
Video recorded by Keith Lamont Scott’s wife and provided by her attorney shows her repeatedly telling officers her husband is not armed and pleading with them not to shoot him. Warning: Graphic content. (Sept. 23)
Media: associatedpress
Scott also was charged with evading arrest two days after the shooting incident. He pleaded no contest to that charge on Feb 4, 2005 and was sentenced to 15 months in jail. He was convicted of aggravated assault on July 19, 2005.
Scott served most of his prison term and was released on April 1, 2011.
Scott, 43, was killed Tuesday. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said officers were attempting to serve another person with an outstanding warrant when Scott emerged from his car with a handgun and did not comply with commands.
Scott's family denied Scott owned or had a gun at the time. Family members were allowed to view videos taken from police dashboard and body cameras, but police have not released videos to the public as of Friday afternoon. The family's attorney told the Charlotte Observer they have “more questions than answers.”