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What We Know About Brentley Vinson, Officer In Charlotte Shooting

Brentley Vinson
www.liberty.edu
Brentley Vinson

The Charlotte police officer who fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott last week has a short personal history with CMPD but a long family one. WFAE's Michael Tomsic has been researching officer Brentley Vinson, who, like Scott, is African-American. He joined Mark Rumsey to discuss what we know.

Vinson has only been with CMPD about two years. He turned 26 years old this month. And he has no disciplinary history with CMPD, according to their records.

What do we know about his family history with CMPD?

His father, Alex Vinson, was with CMPD for 26 years. He investigated homicides, robberies and other crimes, eventually becoming a sergeant, according to his LinkedIn profile. He retired in 2006. In the past few years, he started his own private investigative company that specializes in criminal defense.

How long did the father's career overlap with current CMPD Chief Kerr Putney?

About 14 years. There was a four-year period when both Alex Vinson and Putney were sergeants, and then Putney was promoted to captain and kept working his way up.

It's unclear what kind of relationship they had, if any. Alex Vinson declined our interview request, and CMPD hasn't answered our questions about their relationship.

What else do we know about Brentley Vinson?

Brentley Vinson
www.liberty.edu
Brentley Vinson

He has no criminal record, according to the Mecklenburg County clerk of court. A search of national records turned up one traffic violation that was dismissed.

He grew up in Charlotte and was a standout football player at Ardrey Kell High School before tearing his ACL. After recovering, he played one season with Fork Union Military Academy before going to Liberty University. It's a Christian school in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was a three-year starter at defensive back. 

What do people who know him say about him?

His coaches and a friend also declined or did not respond to our interview requests. His Liberty football profile mentions his leadership. In a Lynchburg newspaper story from his senior year, a coach describes him as exactly the kind of player you want. And a teammate said: 

"He’s been a huge role model for me on and off the field. Most importantly, he keeps me on the right path. He keeps everybody in check that way."

What's Vinson's current status with CMPD?

He's on paid administrative leave, which is standard after an officer-involved shooting.

Copyright 2016 WFAE

Michael Tomsic became a full-time reporter for WFAE in August 2012. Before that, he reported for the station as a freelancer and intern while he finished his senior year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Heââ
Michael Tomsic
Michael Tomsic covers health care, voting rights, NASCAR, peach-shaped water towers and everything in between. He drivesWFAE'shealth care coverage through a partnership with NPR and Kaiser Health News. He became a full-time reporter forWFAEin August 2012. Before that, he reported for the station as a freelancer and intern while he finished his senior year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He interned with Weekends on All Things Considered in Washington, D.C., where he contributed to the show’s cover stories, produced interviews withNasand BranfordMarsalis, and reported a story about a surge of college graduates joining the military. AtUNC, he was the managing editor of the student radio newscast, Carolina Connection. He got his start in public radio as an intern withWHQRin Wilmington, N.C., where he grew up.
Mark Rumsey grew up in Kansas and got his first radio job at age 17 in the town of Abilene, where he announced easy-listening music played from vinyl record albums.
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