A state of emergency has been called in Charlotte, North Carolina, as unrest continues over the fatal police shooting of a black man.

During a second night of protests over the death of Keith Lamont Scott a demonstrator was shot in what officials described as a "civilian on civilian" incident.

The demonstrator is on life support, they added.

Four police officers have also been injured in clashes with protesters, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said.

North Carolina governor Pat McCrory said the National Guard and state highway patrol troopers would be sent to help police as the unrest continues.


Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney told Fox News: "We're trying to disperse the crowd. We've been very patient, but now they've become very aggressive, throwing bottles and so forth, at my officers, so it's time for us now to restore order."

Police said Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was armed and ignored officers' orders when he was gunned down, but the victim's family and a witness said he was holding a book and not a weapon.

Protesters surround police car

The latest unrest started with a peaceful rally that turned violent after several hundred demonstrators, chanting "black lives matter" and "no justice, no peace", marched through downtown Charlotte with brief stops at a black church, police headquarters and a large entertainment venue.

As they approached an intersection, protesters confronted a column of police cars and officers lining the road.

Police then unleashed a volley of rubber bullets, tear gas and flash-bang grenades to disperse the demonstrators, who began throwing fireworks and debris at officers outside a hotel.

Image: Police officers wearing riot gear block a road during protests Image: Two women embrace while looking at a police officer in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, during a protest Image: A man is hit with pepper spray paint balls in uptown Charlotte Image: People gather in front of the Ritz-Carlton in the city Image: A man peers through the damage to the Hyatt House hotel Image: People gather in uptown Charlotte, NC, to protest the police shooting of Keith Scott Image: A man stands on a car in uptown Charlotte, NC Image: A window at City Smoke is smashed Image: People amongst tear gas during the protests Image: Ramsey Orta, who filmed the chokehold death of Eric Garner, is detained during a march Image: Riot police guard the Omni Hotel in downtown Charlotte Image: Demonstrators run as police set off flash-bang grenades /

The confrontation grew more intense as officers carrying shields moved down a street, pushing back a crowd of demonstrators who hurried for cover as police fired more tear gas.

People were also seen looting a convenience store after smashing its windows.

Sixteen officers were injured on the first night of unrest, as police in riot gear clashed with demonstrators who threw stones, set fires and briefly blocked an interstate highway.

In the aftermath of the killing on Tuesday, Mr Scott's wife Rakeyia issued a statement describing her family as "devastated" and appealed for calm.

She added: "We have more questions than answers about Keith's death."

Authorities have not released any video footage of the incident, but the city's mayor said they plan to do so and she would watch the footage on Thursday.

The unrest in North Carolina unfolded as demonstrators in Tulsa, Oklahoma, demanded the arrest of a police officer seen in a video fatally shooting an unarmed black man who had his hands in the air.