CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Angry neighbors packed a north Charlotte church Thursday evening to tell the city’s police chief that the use of deadly force is too much.
The meeting came three days after a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer shot and killed a man who refused to put his gun down.
[RELATED: Man shot, killed by officer had confrontation with employees, source says]
CMPD Chief Kerr Putney has been holding meetings around the city, but Thursday’s event focused on the police's role and community relations.
The atmosphere inside Friendship Missionary Baptist Church was tense at times, and people were pretty fired up. Putney fielded questions from the crowd and explained how police are able to justify the use of deadly force.
Someone asked him if training could be improved in response to the deadly shooting on Monday.
A veteran officer shot and killed Danquirs Franklin at the Burger King on Beatties Ford Road. Police said Franklin was armed and refused to drop his weapon.
Residents said they hope there’s a way situations like that can be avoided.
"It's not going to solve itself with meetings like this,” said Sctario Dyson. “It heightened some people's energy. It might put some people at ease.”
Putney didn't talk about specifics of Monday's shooting but said a request has been made for the body camera video, and suggested it would be released as soon as a judge signs off on that request.
In the video at the top of this webpage, watch more about the discussion that turned heated at times.
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