A second night of disturbances over the deadly police shooting of a black man forced at least three major businesses to tell their employees to stay home on Thursday.
The city is on edge after governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard after Charlotte's police chief said he needed the help.
Anger has continued to build over the shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott by a black police officer on Tuesday afternoon and the wildly different accounts about what happened from authorities and Mr Scott's family and neighbours.
His family say he was unarmed and holding a book when shot but police say they recovered a gun from the scene but no book was found.
A peaceful prayer vigil for Lamont Scott turned into an angry march and then a night of violence leaving a protestor critically wounded. Police did not shoot the man, city officials said.
David Hains from the Diocese of Charlotte told Premier's News Hour all churches were coming together to answer a call for prayer from city leaders.
"Pray for calm, pray for peace and also pray for justice," he said, speaking from the city.
"Something has happened here that we need to have thorough honest answers to. That's going to take a bit of time and in the meantime our churches are asking people to stay calm," he added.
On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters who were shouting "black lives matter" and "hands up, don't shoot" left after police fired flash grenades and tear gas after the shooting.
But several groups of a dozen or more protesters stayed behind, attacking people, including reporters, shattering windows to hotels, office buildings and restaurants and setting small fires.
Authorities said three people and four police officers were injured. Videos and pictures on Twitter showed reporters and other people being attacked.
The violence happened amid questions about what happened when Mr Scott was shot and killed in the parking lot of his condominium complex.
Police did not release dashboard or body camera footage, but said Mr Scott had a gun and refused several orders to drop his weapon. Mr Scott's family and neighbours said he was holding a book.
"I can tell you we did not find a book," the police chief said.
The spokesman for the Diocese of Charlotte told Premier a prayer service had already been held: "The pastor of that church delivered a homily and he said the true battlefield is in the heart.
"He told the congregation to storm and loot your hearts, not the street, if you want true change for good."
A curfew is expected to be imposed on the city later this evening.
David Hains speaking to Premier's Hannah Tooley: