RALEIGH- Conrad James, 23, says he's the one who organized the overnight protest in Charlotte on Interstate 85 but wanted it to be a peaceful one.

He says when he heard about the police shooting of Keith Scott, he drove to Raleigh to Charlotte late Tuesday night.

"But when I got there the tensions were very high, very ,very high tensions...very, very high tempers," he said

James says when he got there, thousands of angry protesters were also in attendance.

"Like physically touching the cops. Not hitting them, not being violent or anything, just like physically getting into their face."

James then urged protesters to move to Interstate 85, which was nearby. Despite the traffic dangers, he said he felt it was the only way to get national attention.

"Some means have to be taken that aren't completely sensible."

He said the protest started out with chants, but then it got violent. Fires were set, property was damaged, and tear gas was deployed. James says he left and headed back to Raleigh, in disappointment.

"The message to me is completely lost at that point. When you start actually rioting, when you start actually looting."

As for the police shooting, James says he has trouble believing officers' story that Scott had a gun. He's inclined to believe Scott's family who says he had a book.

"I don't think a family watching their father getting killed would necessarily make up anything."

James plans to hold more peaceful protests in Charlotte, hoping those who attend will have the same goal.

"We can go in and talk to the Chief of Police. We can go in and talk to the Mayor. That can only happen if we come at it with a compassionate side."

James serves as the Executive Director for the non-profit Life Ultra-Violet.