- Sep 12, 2009
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It was a familiar story: A white police officer claimed that he felt threatened, that a black man wrestled
with him for his weapon and that he had to shoot him in order to protect himself. But new video
showing North Charleston, S.C., Police Officer Michael T. Slager, 33, shooting Walter L. Scott, 50, in
the back as he fled turned Slager’s claim of self-defense into a murder charge.
Slager was arrested for murder after video acquired by the Post and Courier showed Slager
grappling with Scott after shooting the Navy veteran with his Taser. The stun gun then seems to fall to
the ground in the tussle. As Scott runs away from Slager, the officer draws his gun and fires eight
times, shooting the fleeing Scott in the back. The video then shows Slager ordering the dying man,
who has fallen to the ground, to put his hands behind his back before he handcuffs him. Slager then
walks back to where the Taser apparently fell, picks it up and plants it next to Scott’s lifeless body.
Video is graphic: http://www.theroot.com/articles/new...ged_with_murder_after_shooting_black_man.html
with him for his weapon and that he had to shoot him in order to protect himself. But new video
showing North Charleston, S.C., Police Officer Michael T. Slager, 33, shooting Walter L. Scott, 50, in
the back as he fled turned Slager’s claim of self-defense into a murder charge.
Slager was arrested for murder after video acquired by the Post and Courier showed Slager
grappling with Scott after shooting the Navy veteran with his Taser. The stun gun then seems to fall to
the ground in the tussle. As Scott runs away from Slager, the officer draws his gun and fires eight
times, shooting the fleeing Scott in the back. The video then shows Slager ordering the dying man,
who has fallen to the ground, to put his hands behind his back before he handcuffs him. Slager then
walks back to where the Taser apparently fell, picks it up and plants it next to Scott’s lifeless body.
Video is graphic: http://www.theroot.com/articles/new...ged_with_murder_after_shooting_black_man.html