After the fatal shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, massive protests erupted in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

While attempting to serve a warrant to a different person, Officer Brentley Vinson of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department fatally shot Scott, who sat in his car at an apartment complex. Police claimed that Scott had a gun at the time of the shooting while Scott’s family claimed he was reading a book.

When Scott was pronounced dead at the Carolinas Medical Center, several hundred people gathered at the The Village at College Downs apartment complex where the shooting took place.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) said on Twitter that demonstrators were destroying marked police vehicles and that approximately 12 officers had been injured.

Protesters held signs that read “It Was A Book” while others chanted “Black Lives Matter.” At times, the demonstrations grew violent when water bottles and large stones were thrown at police lines. However, many protesters encouraged all demonstrators to act peacefully.

A little before 11 p.m., police fired tear gas into the crowd with hopes to break up the assembly. 

Protesters damaged at least two CMPD vehicles and one officer was hit in the face with a rock, CMPD said. Charolotte Observer news partner WBTV said three of its reporters were hit during the protest and at least one went to the hospital after a blow to the head. At least seven people were taken to the hospital and treated for injuries.

Government and law officials urge members of the community to remain calm while the investigation is pending.