Citizens mobilize and rally Wednesday morning in North Charleston, S.C. as the nation is outraged over yet another shooting of an unarmed Black man.
A white police officer in South Carolina is being charged with murder and was fired after he is seen on video shooting the man in the back after a traffic stop.
Reports indicate the incident took place on Saturday when 50-year-old Walter Scott was hit five times as he ran away from Officer Michael T. Slager who fired the gun.
The three-minute video shows a scuffle between Slager and Scott and several objects falling to the ground. After Scott runs away, Slager tried to Taser Scott but fails. He then draws his gun and fires eight shots at Scott when he gets 10 feet away from him.
About 45 people reportedly participated in a protest on Wednesday morning at North Charleston City Hall.
Scott is a father of four and served in the U.S. Coast Guard. His family said in press conference they are thankful the incident was caught on video. The person who captured the footage has not been identified.
“From the beginning … all we wanted was the truth,” said Anthony Scott, the victim’s older brother. “Through this process, we’ve received the truth. … We can’t get my brother back, and my family is in deep mourning because of that.”
Al Shaprton kicked off his National Action Network convention the day after the video surfaced. He said while the killing was “senseless” he applauded North Charleston’s swift action on the case.
“When a black man is stopped for a broken tail light and ends up being shot multiple times in the back, it is yet another reminder that we need a national strategy to implement real and meaningful police reform now,” Sharpton said. “We simply can’t rely on citizens with video cameras to make sure justice is served.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio discussed the city’s body cam pilot program for NYPD officers in the wake of the shooting.
“You know, we find out, of course, as we always do, here’s a human being with a family, Coast Guard veteran, and that just makes it all the more painful,” he said “But in this case, as I said, that despite the pain, the authorities in South Carolina have really acted in a very commendable manner. And I think that’s sending a powerful message.”
Police officials say that Scott tried to grab the officer’s Taser from him and eventually gained control of the device.
Slager, 33, is 1st Class Patrolman serving on the force for five years and has has two prior complaints filed against him, according to reports. In 2013, a man claimed Slager shot him with a Taser for no reason. In another incident, Slager allegedly pulled a man out of his house only with his boxers on and Tased him.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) said in a statement that Slager was booked at the Charleston County Detention Center. If convicted, he could face the death penalty or 30 years to life in prison.
Bond was was denied for Slager on Tuesday. His lawyer has since dropped him as a client.
“As a result of that video and bad decisions made by our officer, he will be charged with murder,” North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said at a news conference.
North Charleston’s police department has been the subject of criticism when it comes to how Black citizens are treated. Numbers indicate that while the city is 45 percent Black only 18 percent of the 343 officers on the force are Black.
South Carolina NAACP State Conference President Dr. Lonnie Randolph Jr. said in a statement that he was pleased with how quickly the officer was charged when the video was released.
“The rapid response by law enforcement in this matter does bring some level of comfort to the community in the hopes that the judicial process will render an adequate measure of justice for the victim,” he said. “We will continue to monitor the investigation and resulting litigation as it moves through the courts.”
In a statement the U.S. Department of Justice said the South Carolina Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation concurrent SLED and are helping with the investigation.
“The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the South Carolina U.S. Attorney’s Office will work with the FBI in the investigation,” the department said in statement. “The Department of Justice will take appropriate action in light of the evidence and developments in the state case.”