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Man pleads not guilty to shooting, killing man during Charlotte protests

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rayquan Borum stood before a judge on Thursday afternoon and pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

Borum is accused of killing fellow protester Justin Carr on Sept. 21, 2016 in front of the Omni Hotel during the Charlotte riots.

Justin Carr

(Justin Carr)

Police say they have surveillance video of Borum shooting a weapon that night plus a confession that he shot a gun.

Borum's defense attorney, Terry Sherrill, spoke to reporters after the brief hearing on Thursday. He addressed rumor from earlier in the day that Borum was prepared to accept a plea deal.

Sherrill confirmed that his client was offered a 16-year prison sentence in exchange for pleading guilty to second-degree murder plus a gun charge.

Borum ultimately decided to reject the offer, pushing the case closer to a high-profile murder trial.

His attorney said the plea deal was turned down because Borum did not intend to hurt anyone that night.

"He said he confessed to shooting the gun. He didn't confess to shooting with the intent to killing Mr. Carr," said Sherrill.

Assistant district attorney Clayton Jones has previously argued in court that the state is able to prove Borum intended to kill somebody that night.

Borum's defense attorney told Channel 9 that he's confident a jury would give his client a fair trial.

"Well, reasonable doubt can be raised," said Sherrill.

Community activist Braxton Winston was in court on Thursday supporting Borum. There is video showing Winston standing near Carr the night he died.

"I saw Justin bleed out and die on the ground that night," said Winston.

He told Channel 9 there are many people in Charlotte who don't believe police have been transparent in this case and given the full story of happened that night.

"That's why I believe it's important to have an open trial so all evidence can be put out there and clear justice can be found," Winston said.

Any trial date would likely be set for next year unless both sides can agree on a new plea deal before that time.

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