State of emergency declared in Charlotte as protester dies in second night of violence over fatal cop shooting of ‘disabled’ black man

ONE person was shot during a second night of protests over a deadly police shooting of a black man in North Carolina.

The person, who has since been identified, died after being shot in the head outside a hotel that was being protected by the police.

It is not believed Justin Carr, 26, was shot by cops, who said they made 44 arrests.

One police officer was also injured and was transported to a hospital with undisclosed injuries.

The riot and protests came on a day in which the city's police chief gave more details on the shooting that took the life of Keith Lamont Scott.

Chief Kerr Putney addressed the Scott family's claim that he was reading a book in his vehicle when police officers approached and shot him.

Putney said Scott was armed and no book was found at the scene.

He was shot by a black police officer after refusing repeated demands to put down a gun, which was recovered from the scene, Putney said.

Wednesday night, scores of protesters gathered in two locations in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts called on demonstrators to heed calls from Scott's family to remain peaceful.

"Go home and tell everyone violence is not the answer. The investigation is ongoing, it will be transparent," she said.

A protest in a park was peaceful, the mayor said, and the rioting downtown was from a small group of agitators, the mayor said.

Governor Pat McCrory said the state is sending more troopers from the highway patrol to Charlotte.

"Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated," he said in a statement.

A few windows in at least one store were broken and one had "black lives matters" spray-painted on it.