CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tensions are running high as an investigation continues after a deadly officer-involved shooting in Charlotte.
- An investigation continues into the officer-involved shooting in Charlotte.
- Police say a suspect who was fighting with a worker and waving a gun was shot after an officer perceived a lethal threat.
- Community members are questioning the use of lethal force.
The incident happened on Monday morning at the Burger King on Beatties Ford Road. Police were called to the restaurant where witnesses said a man was fighting with a worker and waving a gun.
CMPD chief Kerry Putney says when officers arrived, they saw the man in the parking lot and asked him multiple times to drop his weapon. One of the officers, Wende Kerl, perceived a lethal threat and fired, hitting and killing 27-year-old Danquirs Franklin. CMPD says they recovered a gun on the scene.
Police released the 911 tapes (which you can listen to below) of frantic calls -- one from an employee,a nd another from a customer, which both say that an armed man was inside the Burger King.
They also released video of Putney's initial brief to the media:
Initially, witnesses provided different accounts of what happened, claiming police shot the wrong man. A man who says he is the stepfather of a Burger King employee who was helping a female employee targeted by Franklin, says that Franklin was causing trouble and he was the one police shot. But he says Franklin's weapon was on his hip when police shot him.
Though Franklin is the man that police were initially called about, many are concerned and are asking why the incident ended with lethal force. Charlotte City Council member Braxton Winston and Charlotte NAACP member Corine Mack are talking with both sides trying to figure out the story, but they say it’s a sad day in Charlotte.
“The community is quite concerned. The fact remains that these type of things happen. You can see it on the map and statistics of black and brown neighborhoods, and in areas with higher poverty,” said Winston.
“I don’t know what the facts are, but I know one fact is there’s another stolen life. That’s all I’m concerned about is this man is gone,” said Mack.
With questions still swirling, people are hoping for more information before tensions boil over.
“We need the facts to come out, and that’s the most important thing,” said Winston.
No officers were injured in the incident. Kerl, has been place on paid administrative leave while the case is investigated. She has been with CMPD since 1995.
If you have any information about what happened, call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.