North Charleston police officer Michael Slager shot and killed 50-year-old Walter Scott last April, which ignited furious protests while adding to the ongoing discussion of authorities targeting people of color. Scott’s family received some justice after city officials put forth a $6.5 million settlement which was accepted.
USA Today reports:
The North Charleston, S.C. city council approved the settlement Thursday night at a hearing attended by Scott’s family and their attorneys.
Officer Michael Slager, who is white, was arrested and charged with murder after a videotape taken by a bystander showed the officer shooting a fleeing Scott in the back multiple times on April 4. Scott died at the scene. The video, replayed across the country, captured national attention and underscored increasing tension between white police officers and black men.
“I am glad the city and the family were able to reach a settlement without the necessity of a lawsuit,” North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey said shortly after the settlement’s approval. “Both sides have met many times and worked very hard over the past several months to resolve this matter.
The settlement is the latest in a series of recently announced settlements involving Black men killed at the hands of police. New York officials just settled with the family of Eric Garner for $5.9 million, and the city of Baltimore agreed to pay the family of Freddie Gray $6.4 million.
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