State Of Emergency Declared In Charlotte, National Guard Deployed

UPDATE 1am: The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) planning to operate normal bus/rail service Thursday morning. CATS will assess if any repairs are needed and will communicate in a bit if there will be any detours/delays to services.

National Guard troops are expected to be in Charlotte within a few hours.

Bank of America employees have been informed via an emergency support system they are not to report to work Thursday.

CMPD says 4 officers were injured during Wednesday’s protests in Uptown.

The Charlotte Hornets Team Store was looted during Wednesday’s protests.

Tear gas and smoke bombs were used throughout Wednesday evening to disperse crowds in Uptown.

Protesters shut down I-277 for a brief period of time Wednesday night.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gov. Pat McCrory has issued a State of Emergency in Charlotte due to protests following the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by a CMPD officer.

McCrory says CMPD Police Chief Kerr Putney requested the State of Emergency to be declared.

The National Guard is now being deployed to Charlotte.

Read full statement here:

Governor Pat McCrory declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday at 11:00 p.m. upon the request of Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney. The governor has also initiated efforts to deploy the North Carolina National Guard and the State Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement.

“Upon a recent request of Chief Putney, the National Guard and State Highway Patrol are sending in resources to further help the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department,” said Governor McCrory. “Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated. I support and commend the law enforcement officials for their bravery and courage during this difficult situation.”

The declaration allows the state to send the N.C. National Guard to Charlotte to provide support to the State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement as needed. Charlotte officials requested state assistance following two nights of violent riots.

Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry will direct the State’s Emergency Operations Plan and deploy the State Emergency Response Team to assist Charlotte and Mecklenburg County officials in maintaining safety and security in the city.