Last Saturday (April 4), 50-year-old Black man Walter Scott was shot and killed by 33-year-old police officer Michael T. Slager in North Charleston, S.C. As the nation attempts to process the senseless killing of yet another unarmed Black person at the hands of a white cop, facts about the murder of Walter Scott are continually emerging.
Thanks to the diligent and brave efforts taken by bystander Feidin Santana, the man who caught the Scott shooting death on video, Slager was served justice and charged with murder. Still, there are several glaring questions surrounding the case and Scott’s family and and supporters across the nation are demanding answers.
Hip-Hop Wired has compiled 10 key facts about Walter Scott’s murder. This matter will continue to develop and we will update this post accordingly.
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Photo: The New York Times
The Day Of The Walter Scott Shooting
Patrolman 1st Class Michael Thomas Slager stopped Scott’s Mercedes-Benz for a broken taillight last Saturday (April 4). According to police reports, Scott fled the scene and Slager gave chase. According to Slager and now debunked, the officer claimed that Scott fought with him took his stun gun thus prompting the shooting. As evidenced by the video clip, Scott was actually running away from Slager.
Slager Appeared To Be Planting Evidence
Santana’s video of the incident appears to show Slager placing some evidence next to Scott’s fallen body.
Slager’s Attorney Dropped The Case After The Video Went Public
When Santana’s video was published by the New York Times, Slager’s attorney, David Aylor, dropped him on Tuesday.
Slager Was Charged With Murder On April 7
The swift action that led to Slager’s murder charges were helped by the video and a rallying cry among community leaders and activists nationwide. The curious timing of Aylor dropping Slager as a client that day raised some questions.
Officers On The Scene Didn’t Give Scott CPR Allegedly
According to the video and a later New York Times report, officers called to the scene of the shooting allegedly stood around and didn’t give Scott CPR.
Slager Attacked An Unarmed Black Man Before
According to reports obtained by the Associated Press, Slager has a record of violence against Black men. Back in 2013, Slager pulled Mario Givens from his home and tasered the unarmed man several times although he wasn’t guilty of a crime. Slager was looking for Givens’ brother, a man some five inches taller than the man he assaulted but claimed they “looked alike.”
North Charleston’s Police Chief Expressed Disappointment
Credit: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
North Charleston Police Chief Eddie Driggers said he was “sickened by what he saw” after witnessing the video of the shooting.
North Charleston’s Mayor and Police Chief Visited Scott’s Family
In the aftermath of the shooting case, North Charleston mayor Keith Summey and Chief Driggers visited the Scott family. The pair pledged their support to the family as well.
Several Investigations Are Still Ongoing
The Justice Department, the F.B.I. and the state’s Law Enforcement Division are all looking into the matter. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is looking deeper to see if Scott’s rights were violated in any way.
North Charleston Cops Will Get Body Camera Grant
Mayor Summey and Chief Driggers announced at a press conference that a grant was awarded to the city to provide 100 body cameras.
