FBI Launches Civil Rights Investigation Into North Charleston Shooting
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C., April 8 (UPI) — Federal officials have launched a civil rights investigation into the shooting death of a South Carolina man at the hands of a police officer who has since been charged with murder.
Walter Scott, 50, died Saturday after he was shot by North Charleston officer Michael Slager, 33. Slager was charged with one count of murder after video surfaced of him shooting eight times toward Scott as he ran away.
An autopsy showed five of the bullets struck Scott from behind, two of which were fatal, Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten said in a statement.
During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Keith Summey said Slager had been terminated from his job at the North Charleston Police Department. Slager’s wife, who is eight months pregnant, though, will be retained on the department’s health insurance for a time.
It is “the humane thing for us to do,” Summey said.
The news conference, held jointly by Summey and police chief Eddie Driggers, was contentious at times. Several members of the public attended the conference and one man, wearing a shirt reading “Black lives matter,” shouted out “This is what democracy looks like!”
The group of demonstrators called for Summey’s resignation, chanting “The mayor’s got to go!”
Summey said the police department, in response to Scott’s death, ordered 150 body cameras. That, together with the 101 cameras already on order, would be enough for all officers on the force to be equipped with the technology.
Meanwhile, the North Charleston Police Department handed over the investigation into the shooting to the State Law Enforcement Division. Federal officials have also launched a civil rights inquiry into the incident.
“The South Carolina Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation concurrent with the S.C. Law Enforcement Division and are providing aid as necessary to the state investigation,” the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement. “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 incident comes amid heightened scrutiny over law enforcement’s use of excessive force, particularly with African-American suspects.
The shooting death of unarmed black teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and the chokehold death of unarmed black man Eric Garner in New York together prompted a wave of protests worldwide over police brutality and racial discrimination.
It’s not clear if racial discrimination was at play in Scott’s death, though, a lawyer for the man’s family said.
“We can’t get into the brain of another individual, so we can’t state that,” attorney Chris Stewart said. “I think it would be irresponsible to say that and try and inflame a community or anything of that nature.”
Video of the shooting was obtained by the Charleston Post & Courier and The New York Times on Tuesday.
The video begins in the middle of the confrontation, showing Scott slapping at Slager’s hands as unidentified objects fall to the ground. Scott then runs away from Slager with apparent Taser wires stretching from Scott to the officer’s hands.
The officer then fires off seven rapid shots, pauses, then fires an eighth round at Slager, who then falls to the ground face first. Slager then appears to radio for help and handcuffs Scott.
Once a second officer arrives, Slager can be seen picking up an item and dropping it next to Scott as he lays on the ground. It’s unclear what that object is.
