The South Carolina police officer who has been charged with murder for fatally shooting an unarmed black man and attempting to plant his Taser on him has been fired, officials say.
Michael Slager, who was arrested yesterday, had been a member of the North Charleston police force for five years. According to the New York Times, the 33-year-old is currently being held at Charleston County Jail after being denied bond last night. S;ager's arrest came after video footage of him shooting 50-year-old Walter Scott as he ran away on April 4 surfaced.
The Times reports that North Charleston Police Chief Eddie Driggers told the media that he was disgusted by the video:
I have watched the video and I was sickened by what I saw, Eddie Driggers, the North Charleston police chief, told reporters, at an emotional and often chaotic news conference, with protesters repeatedly shouting and interrupting. And I have not watched it since.
Asked whether the proper protocols were followed after the shooting, Chief Driggers said, Obviously not.
In addition, attorney David Aylor told the Daily Beast that he has refused to represent Slager as a client moving forward in light of the video. Driggers also told the media that handing the case over to the state for investigation is "the right thing to do."
[via The New York Times and The Daily Beast]
