by Our Foreign Desk

NORTH Carolina civil rights leader Corine Mack hit out at police on Tuesday after they announced that Keith Lamont Scott, whom police shot dead, was once subject to a restraining order.

Ms Mack, president of NAACP chapter in Charlotte, told a press conference that the revelation was immaterial since officers who confronted him didn’t know about that history before shooting him.

She said that African-Americans are typically “demonised” after being killed by police adding: “I don’t want to hear any of that,” in response to questions regarding Mr Scott’s criminal record.

Court documents demonstrate that a restraining order was filed against him a year ago after he threatened to kill his wife and her son with a gun.

His wife Rakeyia Scott filed the order last October 5, warning law enforcement officers to be aware that he “carries a 9mm black” gun.

When deputies went to serve the restraining order two days after it was filed, Mr Scott had already moved to South Carolina, where he has family.

Ms Scott filed a separate court notice about a week later, voluntarily dismissing the order and saying: “He is no longer a threat to me and my family.”

Police claim that Mr Scott had a handgun when they approached him at a block of flats last week and that he was shot after refusing to drop it.

His family insists that he was not armed.

Videos released by police and the family appear inconclusive and state authorities are continuing to investigate his killing.

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