Carolina Panthers

Report: Panthers to discuss game security after riots in Charlotte

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Carolina Panthers officials are planning to meet Thursday to discuss possible security issues for Sunday's home game against the Minnesota Vikings, reports ESPN.com's David Newton.

There have been violent protests for the past few days after a black Charlotte, North Carolina police officer shot and killed 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott.

Authorities say Scott was carrying a weapon after exiting a vehicle when he was shot; his family disputes that account, saying Scott was sitting in his car reading a book.

On Wednesday, protests started to move toward Bank of America stadium and quickly turned violent, as police tried to prevent the rioters from destroying property.

The cops responded by firing shots and setting off tear gas bombs, attempting to end the protests. More than a dozen police officers were reportedly injured in the rioting.

Panthers officials are concerned if there will be enough security at the home game in case the protests move closer to the stadium.

"I'm an African-American and I'm not happy how the justice has been dealt with over the years, and the state of oppression in our community,'' Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said. "But we also as black people have to do right by ourselves. We can't be hypocrites. "And I say that on one voice and also another voice that when you go public or when things happen in the community, it's not the fact that things are happening, it's the way they are being treated after they happen.''

- Scooby Axson

This article originally appeared on