Social media's impact in Keith Lamont Scott case

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Prosecutors and police said they learned how much of an impact social media has on public perception and the criminal justice process regarding Charlotte’s unrest after the officer-involved shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in September.

Charlotte saw two nights of violent protests after Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officer Brentley Vinson shot and killed Scott at his apartment on Old Concord Road. Much of that was fueled by social media posts saying Scott was unarmed.

On Wednesday, District Attorney Andrew Murray laid out a detailed review of the case, including new video and statements showing that Scott in fact did have a gun.

“One thing we've learned is instant gratification of video from those that take video from different angles,” Murray said after announcing his decision.

Murray said the new reality is that cellphones and social media can dictate the narrative, even when some of that information may be inaccurate.

“You have your video, but you have what comes before the video,” Kathleen Nicolaides, a professor at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and former federal prosecutor, said.

Prosecutors are facing tough choices on when to release critical evidence that could contradict inaccuracies on social media, but they have to make sure they don’t compromise the legal process, she said.

CMPD released police body cam video of the Scott shooting only after public pressure mounted tremendously.

“I think some departments have changed the rules, and they do release (body cam footage) earlier than, perhaps, was released in this case,” Nicolaides said.

CMPD is making changes, stepping up its own social media campaign.

“So we've really put a big full-court press into communicating through social, Facebook, Twitter, good, bad and indifferent,” CMPD spokesman Rob Tufano said.

Murray, for the first time, posted a full report of his investigation, that of the Scott shooting.

The report included photos and videos online, and he said it may not be the last time.

"If there are three or four great videos, and it is obvious, the facts and the circumstances, I'll make that call early.
But I'm not going to make a call until I'm certain that we're doing justice."

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