A South Carolina police officer has been arrested and is now being charged with murder after he was caught on video shooting 50-year-old Walter Scott, a black man thought to be unarmed, at least eight times in the back as he ran away.
The incident, which happened Saturday, began after North Charleston police officer Michael Slager stopped Scott for a traffic infraction. Scott, who was wanted for arrest on a Family Court warrant—from failing to pay child support—fled from the traffic stop. Slager then proceeded to chase Scott shooting a stun gun. According to Slager, the two struggled when Scott tried to take his taser, causing him to feel “threatened” enough to shoot him.
Video of the shooting, filmed by an anonymous bystander, shows a different series of events than what Slager said. The video shows Slager shooting Scott, who is running away from him, before Scott falls to the ground. That's when Slager goes over to a collapsed Scott and tells him to put his hands behind his back. He handcuffs Scott, goes back to where the two had struggled and picks something up off the ground. Slager returns to Scott and plants, what appears to be a taser, next to him.
Police Chief Eddie Driggers confirmed that Slager had been arrested today and booked into the Charleston County jail on a murder charge.
Mayor Keith Summey of North Charleston announced charges against Slager saying he made a “bad decision” adding,
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The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Justice Department are currently investigating the shooting.
Warning: The video of the shooting is graphic and may be disturbing to viewers.
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Update: The mugshot of Slager has surfaced.
[via The Post and Courier/NYT]
