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Walter Scott shooting: Police officer faces murder charge in death of black man
WARNING: This story contains graphic video of the shooting
A white South Carolina police officer has been charged with murder over the shooting death of a black man who appeared to be fleeing from him, local authorities said on Tuesday, with the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department announcing a separate probe into the case.
A video of the Saturday incident, showing North Charleston police officer Michael Slager shooting 50-year-old Walter Scott, was viewed by state investigators, and a decision was made to charge Slager with murder, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said at a news conference.
"When you're wrong, you're wrong," Summey told reporters. "If you make a bad decision, I don't care if you're behind the shield or just a citizen on the street, you have to live by that decision."
The incident began after Scott was pulled over for a broken taillight, local media reported.
A video of the encounter published by the New York Times shows a brief scuffle between Slager and Scott before the latter begins running away.
The video, which appears to be recorded by a bystander, then shows the officer firing several shots at Scott, who falls to the ground. Scott does not appear to be armed while fleeing from Slager.
Anthony Scott, brother of Walter Scott, said his family is in deep mourning after the shooting. He expressed gratitude that the video existed and said he hopes his brother, a father of four, will get justice.
Justin Bamberg, a lawyer and state legislator who appeared at a news conference with members of the Scott family, said the family expects to file a lawsuit.
"What's done in the dark typically comes to the light, and this is an example of what can happen when people are willing to step up and do the right thing for the right reasons," Bamberg said.
"Essentially, this officer gunned down an unarmed man who was not a threat to the officer or anyone else, that is what it appears in the video," Bamberg said.
The incident comes at a time of tension over the deadly use of force by U.S. police, particularly by white police officers against black men, including Michael Brown, 18, who was shot and killed by a white police officer last year in Ferguson, Mo., sparking nationwide protests.
The federal probe will be handled by the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the South Carolina U.S. Attorney's Office together with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Justice Department said.
view the video of the shooting here http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/walter-scott-shooting-police-officer-faces-murder-charge-in-death-of-black-man-1.3024036
after him shoot the fleeing man, the policeman go over to him n put a taser next to him den claim the man attacked him...guess him never know smaddy was taping the event....him stop the guy who was driving a Benz with rims...gave a whole different account of wat happened n then the video surfaced...so dem charge him with murder
WARNING: This story contains graphic video of the shooting
A white South Carolina police officer has been charged with murder over the shooting death of a black man who appeared to be fleeing from him, local authorities said on Tuesday, with the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department announcing a separate probe into the case.
A video of the Saturday incident, showing North Charleston police officer Michael Slager shooting 50-year-old Walter Scott, was viewed by state investigators, and a decision was made to charge Slager with murder, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said at a news conference.
"When you're wrong, you're wrong," Summey told reporters. "If you make a bad decision, I don't care if you're behind the shield or just a citizen on the street, you have to live by that decision."
The incident began after Scott was pulled over for a broken taillight, local media reported.
A video of the encounter published by the New York Times shows a brief scuffle between Slager and Scott before the latter begins running away.
The video, which appears to be recorded by a bystander, then shows the officer firing several shots at Scott, who falls to the ground. Scott does not appear to be armed while fleeing from Slager.
Anthony Scott, brother of Walter Scott, said his family is in deep mourning after the shooting. He expressed gratitude that the video existed and said he hopes his brother, a father of four, will get justice.
Justin Bamberg, a lawyer and state legislator who appeared at a news conference with members of the Scott family, said the family expects to file a lawsuit.
"What's done in the dark typically comes to the light, and this is an example of what can happen when people are willing to step up and do the right thing for the right reasons," Bamberg said.
"Essentially, this officer gunned down an unarmed man who was not a threat to the officer or anyone else, that is what it appears in the video," Bamberg said.
The incident comes at a time of tension over the deadly use of force by U.S. police, particularly by white police officers against black men, including Michael Brown, 18, who was shot and killed by a white police officer last year in Ferguson, Mo., sparking nationwide protests.
The federal probe will be handled by the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the South Carolina U.S. Attorney's Office together with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Justice Department said.
view the video of the shooting here http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/walter-scott-shooting-police-officer-faces-murder-charge-in-death-of-black-man-1.3024036
after him shoot the fleeing man, the policeman go over to him n put a taser next to him den claim the man attacked him...guess him never know smaddy was taping the event....him stop the guy who was driving a Benz with rims...gave a whole different account of wat happened n then the video surfaced...so dem charge him with murder
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