1. Footage of killing spurs protests in S.C.
Officer charged with murder and fired
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Angry protesters chanted “Black lives matter” and “All lives matter” in front of City Hall on Wednesday, a day after a white police officer was charged with shooting and killing a black man after a confrontation caught on video. North Charleston Officer Michael Slager, 33, was charged with the murder of Walter Scott, 50, after a passerby sent a cellphone video of Saturday’s shooting to authorities and Scott’s family.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. Angry protesters chanted “Black lives matter” and “All lives matter” in front of City Hall on Wednesday, a day after a white police officer was charged with shooting and killing a black man after a confrontation caught on video.
North Charleston Officer Michael Slager, 33, was charged with the murder of Walter Scott, 50, after a passerby sent a cellphone video of Saturday’s shooting to authorities and Scott’s family.
Mayor Keith Summey said Wednesday that Slager has been fired but his wife, who is eight months pregnant, will receive city health benefits. Summey also said the city has obtained a grant to equip every police officer with a body camera.
Police Chief Eddie Driggers said, “I have watched the video and I was sickened by what I saw.”
The emergence of the video shocked this city of 100,000 with a population split almost evenly between blacks and whites. The tragedy follows months of national discourse about race and policing after law enforcement confrontations with unarmed, black citizens in Ferguson, Mo., New York City and elsewhere.
The video shows Slager drop-
“I have watched the video and I was sickened by what I saw.” Eddie Driggers, North Charleston, S.C., police chief
ping what appears to be a stun gun, drawing his gun and shooting at Scott at least eight times as Scott runs away. Scott falls facedown to the ground. Slager walks up and puts handcuffs on Scott.
Slager told investigators that Scott struggled for his stun gun and that he shot Scott because he feared for his life, authorities said. State Law Enforcement Division agents, after viewing the recording and examining other the video and evidence, filed the charges.
Scott’s family said they intend to file a civil lawsuit against Slager.