CHARLOTTE POLICE hold back video of slaying.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to release video of the fatal shooting of a black man, as the National Guard arrived to try to head off a third night of violence.

The family of 43-year Keith Lamont Scott demanded police release the video after showing them the footage at their request. The family’s lawyer said he couldn’t tell whether Scott was holding a gun.

Charlotte- Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said releasing police dash camera and body camera footage of the killing could undermine the investigation. He told reporters that the video will be made public when he believes there is a “compelling reason” to do so.

“You shouldn’t expect it to be released,” Putney said. “I’m not going to jeopardize the investigation.”

He added, “Transparency is in the eye of the beholder. If you think I’m saying we should display a victim’s worst day for public consumption, that is not the transparency I’m speaking of.”

Meanwhile, an undisclosed number of National Guardsmen assembled in Charlotte, sent in by Gov. Pat McCrory, who declared a state of emergency after a second-straight night of unrest.

Charlotte is just the latest U.S. city to be shaken by protests and recriminations over the death of a black man at the hands of police, a list that includes Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, New York, and Ferguson, Mo.

In Charlotte, scores of rioters Wednesday night attacked reporters and others, set fires and smashed windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants in the city’s bustling downtown section. The NASCAR Hall of Fame was among the places damaged.

Forty-four people were arrested, and one protester who was shot died at the hospital Thursday; city officials said police did not shoot the man and that no arrests have been made in 26-year-old Justin Carr’s death. Hours before nightfall Thursday, the police chief said he saw no need for a curfew. In addition to the National Guardsmen, North Carolina state troopers and U.S. Justice Department conflict-resolution experts were sent to keep the peace.

“We are working together to get through this difficult time,” Mayor Jennifer Roberts said in an interview on Good Morning America. “We are a can-do city, we are a collaborative city, we are a place that welcomes visitors, that includes all voices at the table. And we are determined to work together to make sure that we return to that state of collaboration.”

Attorney General Loretta Lynch pleaded again Thursday for protesters to remain peaceful, criticizing the violence that has injured police and demonstrators alike.

“For the second day in a row, protests in response to the death of Keith Lamont Scott took place in Charlotte last night,” Lynch, a North Carolina native, said during a news conference. “And for the second day in a row, the protests were marred by violence — this time leaving one person on life support and several injured — an awful reminder that violence only begets violence.”

Lynch called for “those responsible for the violence to stop.” She added, “You are drowning out the voices of commitment and change and ushering in more tragedy and grief in our communities.”

The FBI and Justice Department are monitoring the situation involving Scott’s death, Lynch said, but federal officials have not begun an investigation.

“I know these are difficult times,” Lynch said. “I know that the events of recent days are painfully unclear and call out for answers. But I also know that the answer will not be found in the violence of recent days.”

Demonstrators have been demanding answers in Scott’s killing, with some carrying signs that read “Release the tapes.” Police have said that Scott was shot to death Tuesday by a black officer after he disregarded loud, repeated warnings to drop his gun. Neighbors, though, have said he was holding a book. The police chief said a gun was found next to the dead man, and there was no book.

Putney said that he has seen the video and it does not contain “absolute, definitive evidence that would confirm that a person was pointing a gun.” But, he said, “When taken in totality of other evidence it supports what we’ve heard and the version of the truth about the circumstances that happened that led to the death of Mr. Scott.”

Justin Bamberg, an attorney for Scott’s family, watched the video with the slain man’s relatives. He said Scott gets out of his vehicle calmly.

“While police did give him several commands, he did not aggressively approach them or raise his hands at members of law enforcement at any time. It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands,” Bamberg said in a statement. Scott was shot as he walked slowly backward with his hands by his side, Bamberg said.

The lawyer also said at a news conference earlier in the day that Scott’s wife saw him get shot, “and that’s something she will never, ever forget.” That is the first time anyone connected with the case has said the wife witnessed the shooting. Bamberg gave no details on what the wife saw.

In North Carolina law, authorities may release police video at their discretion. Effective Oct. 1, however, a new state law will forbid police agencies from making body-camera footage public without a court order.

The Charlotte mayor, however, said she does not believe the new law will apply to the footage and said she has asked the police chief to show it to her and a small group of community leaders, including the NAACP chairman.