Killing of Walter Scott

File:Walter L. Scott, USCG.jpg

• Walter Lamar Scott{{refn|group=note|This is the name spelling used in the state grand jury indictment document as well as in many news sources. Many other news sources spelled Scott's middle name as "Lamer".}} was a 50-year-old forklift operator, studying massage therapy.{{cite news |first=Frances |last=Robles |title=Racism Denounced at Walter Scott's Funeral One Week After Police Shooting New York Times |url=http://nyti.ms/1Fxt0pO |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=April 12, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d67e289fc6a64c2896365719826a294b/white-sc-officer-charged-murder-shooting-black-man|title=White SC officer charged with murder in black man's shooting|agency=Associated Press|date=April 8, 2015|access-date=April 9, 2015|first=Bruce|last=Smith|archive-date=April 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409174050/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d67e289fc6a64c2896365719826a294b/white-sc-officer-charged-murder-shooting-black-man|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/07/us/south-carolina-officer-charged-murder/ |title=South Carolina policeman charged with murder |website=CNN |date=April 7, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |first=Dana |last=Ford}} An arrest warrant had been issued since a {{nowrap|January 16}}, 2013, court hearing regarding his child support payments,{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/walter-scott-shooting/walter-scott-shooting-warrant-over-child-support-court-records-show-n339151 |title=Walter Scott Had Bench Warrant for His Arrest, Court Documents Show |work=NBC News |date=April 11, 2015}} for which he had previously been jailed three times.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/10/walter-scott-no-warrant-issued-child-support-traffic-stop |title=Walter Scott: uncertainty over arrest warrant for thousands owed in child support |work=The Guardian |first=Amanda |last=Holpuch |date=April 10, 2015}} Scott previously served two years in the U.S. Coast Guard before being given a general discharge in 1986 for a drug-related offense.{{cite news |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-walter-scott-coast-guard-20150409-story.html |title=Walter Scott, killed by S.C. officer, served in Coast Guard at Curtis Bay |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=May 1, 2015 |first=Colin |last=Campbell}}
• Michael Thomas Slager, 33 years old at the time of the incident, served in the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) for five years and five months prior to the shooting.{{cite news |first=Sasha |last=Goldstein |title=Michael Slager: What you should know about the North Charleston cop who killed Walter Scott |date=April 8, 2015 |access-date=February 5, 2018 |website=New York Daily News |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/michael-slager-fired-north-charleston-pd-5-years-article-1.2177713}} Before becoming a police officer, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Slager was named in a police complaint in 2013 for allegedly using a Taser on a man without cause. Slager was cleared by the police department over the incident; the victim and several witnesses said they were not interviewed. Following the Scott killing, North Charleston police stated they would re-review the 2013 complaint.{{cite news |last1=Schuppe |first1=Jon |title=North Charleston Man Filed Abuse Complaint Against Officer Michael Slager in 2013 |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/walter-scott-shooting/north-charleston-man-says-he-too-was-tasered-michael-slager-n338641 |website=NBC News |date=April 10, 2015}} Slager was named in a second tasing-without-cause complaint following an August 2014 police stop.{{cite news |title=Video captured 2014 Taser shooting involving officer Michael Slager |url=https://news.yahoo.com/video-sc-police-officer-michael-slager-shot-man-in-the-back-with-a-taser-gun-031940770.html |website=Yahoo! News |first=Jason |last=Sickles |date=April 14, 2015 |access-date=April 14, 2015}} A complaint filed in January 2015 resulted in Slager being cited for failing to file a report. Personnel documents describe Slager as having demonstrated "great officer safety tactics" in dealing with suspects, and note his proficiency with a Taser.{{cite news |title=Officer Michael Thomas Slager of South Carolina: What we know about him |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/08/us/south-carolina-michael-slager |website=CNN |date=April 8, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409033939/http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/08/us/south-carolina-michael-slager|archive-date=April 9, 2015 |url-status=live}}

At {{nowrap|9:30 a.m.}}, {{nowrap|April 4}}, 2015, in the parking lot of an auto parts store at 1945 Remount Road, Slager stopped Scott for a non-functioning third brake light.{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |title=To North Charleston police critics, dash video strikes at heart of problem |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=April 13, 2015 |newspaper=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150409/PC16/150409311 |archive-date=April 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412200549/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150409/PC16/150409311 |url-status=dead }} Scott was driving a 1991 Mercedes, and, according to his brother, was headed to the auto parts store when he was stopped.{{cite news |title=Large crowd attends funeral for Walter Scott, man shot by S.C. police officer charged with murder |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |date=April 11, 2015 |access-date=April 11, 2015 |url=http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2015/04/large_crowd_attends_funeral_fo.html}} The video from Slager's dashcam shows him approaching Scott's car, speaking to Scott, and then returning to his patrol car. Scott exited his car and fled with Slager giving chase on foot.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/09/us/south-carolina-police-shooting/ |title=Dash cam video shows the moments before South Carolina police shooting |website=CNN |first1=Ashley |last1=Fantz |first2=Holly |last2=Yan |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409200045/http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/09/us/south-carolina-police-shooting/ |archive-date=April 9, 2015 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/10/us/south-carolina-police-shooting |title=Walter Scott's passenger meets with police as family plans burial |website=CNN |first1=Polo |last1=Sandoval |first2=Steve |last2=Almasy |date=April 10, 2015}}

Slager pursued Scott into a lot behind a pawn shop at 5654 Rivers Avenue,{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |title=Attorney: North Charleston police officer felt threatened before fatal shooting |date=April 6, 2015 |access-date=May 28, 2015 |website=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150406/PC16/150409558/1177/north-charleston-police-say-officer-who-fatally-shot-man-pulled-him-over-because-of-brake-light |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515153509/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150406/PC16/150409558/1177/north-charleston-police-say-officer-who-fatally-shot-man-pulled-him-over-because-of-brake-light |archive-date=May 15, 2015 |url-status=live}} and the two became involved in a physical altercation. At some point before or during the struggle, Slager fired his Taser, hitting Scott. Scott fled, and Slager drew his .45-caliber Glock 21 handgun, firing eight rounds at him from behind. The coroner's report stated that Scott was struck a total of five times: three times in the back, once in the upper buttocks, and once on an ear. During Slager's state trial, forensic pathologist Lee Marie Tormos testified that the fatal wound was caused by a bullet that entered Scott's back and struck his lungs and heart.{{cite news |title=The Latest: Attorneys Spar Over Victim's Drug Use |date=November 9, 2016 |access-date=November 9, 2016 |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/11/09/us/ap-us-police-shooting-north-charleston-the-latest.html}}

Immediately following the shooting, Slager radioed a dispatcher, stating, "Shots fired and the subject is down. He grabbed my Taser."{{cite news |first1=Mark |last1=Berman |first2=Wesley |last2=Lowery |first3=Kimberly |last3=Kindy |title=South Carolina police officer charged with murder after shooting man during traffic stop |date=April 7, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/04/07/south-carolina-police-officer-will-be-charged-with-murder-after-shooting/}}

When Slager fired his gun, Scott was approximately {{convert|15 to 20|ft|0}} away and fleeing. In the report of the shooting filed before the video surfaced, Slager said he had feared for his life because Scott had taken his Taser, and that he shot Scott because he "felt threatened".{{cite news |title=North Charleston officer faces murder charge after video shows him shooting man in back |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150407/PC16/150409468 |newspaper=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |date=April 7, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015}}

A passenger in Scott's car, reported to be a male co-worker and friend, was later placed in the back of a police vehicle and briefly detained.

A toxicology report showed that Scott had cocaine and alcohol in his system at the time of his death. The level of cocaine was less than half the average amount for "typical impaired drivers", according to the report.{{cite news |first1=Catherine E. |last1=Shoichet |first2=Mayra |last2=Cuevas |title=Walter Scott shooting case: Court documents reveal new details |date=September 10, 2015 |access-date=December 17, 2015 |website=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/08/us/south-carolina-walter-scott-shooting-michael-slager}} Tormos testified that Scott did not test positive for alcohol.

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| video1 = [https://vimeo.com/channels/915545/124336782 Shooting] on Vimeo (3:12)

| video2 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6UzGIxQ_Qg Shooting] on YouTube (3:49)

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An eyewitness to the shooting, Feidin Santana, recorded video of the incident on his phone.{{cite news |title=Police Shooting Witness Says He Saw Officer Drop Something by Walter Scott's Body |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-shooting-witness-officer-drop-walter-scotts-body/story?id=30187376 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409202903/https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-shooting-witness-officer-drop-walter-scotts-body/story?id=30187376 |archive-date=April 9, 2015 |url-status=live}} At first Santana did not share the video out of fear of retribution, but he became angered when the police report differed from his view of the events.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/04/08/walter-scott-feidin-santana-cell-phone-video/25497593/ |title=Man who shot S.C. cell phone video speaks out |website=USA Today |date=April 9, 2015 |first=Melanie |last=Eversley}} In an interview on MSNBC, Santana said, "I felt that my life, with this information, might be in danger. I thought about erasing the video and just getting out of the community, you know Charleston, and living some place else."{{cite news |first=Phil |last=Helsel |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/walter-scott-shooting/man-who-recorded-walter-scott-being-shot-speaks-out-n338126 |title=Walter Scott Death: Bystander Who Recorded Cop Shooting Speaks Out |website=NBC News |date=April 8, 2015}} The video was subsequently shared with Scott's family through an activist of Black Lives Matter, and later with the news media.{{cite news |title=Coroner: Walter Scott died from multiple gunshot wounds to the back |date=April 8, 2015 |access-date=April 8, 2015 |website=WCSC-TV |location=Charleston, South Carolina |url=http://m.live5news.com/live5news/db/330614/content/shN7jVfk}}

Santana said that after a struggle in which Slager deployed his Taser, Scott was "just trying to get away from the Taser," and that before he started recording, he observed that Slager "had control of the situation".{{cite news |title=Bystander: S.C. victim, cop struggled before killing |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/04/08/sc-police-shooting-family-civil-suit/25450485 |newspaper=USA Today |date=April 8, 2015 |access-date=April 8, 2015}} In an interview on The Today Show, Santana said Scott "never grabbed the Taser of the police. He never got the Taser."{{cite news |url=http://www.kmov.com/story/28760683/south-carolina-shooting-victim-didnt-grab-taser-witness-feidin-santana-says |title=South Carolina shooting victim didn't grab Taser, witness Feidin Santana says |website=KMOV |location=St. Louis, Missouri |date=April 9, 2015 |first=Jason |last=Hanna}}{{cite news |url=http://www.today.com/news/feidin-santana-bystander-who-recorded-walter-scott-shooting-im-still-t13671 |title=Feidin Santana, bystander who recorded Walter Scott shooting: 'I'm still scared' |website=Today |first=Eun Kyung |last=Kim}} (original interview with Today){{cite news |author1=((CNN Wire)) |author2=Eric Spillman|title=Walter Scott Didn't Grab Taser, Man Who Recorded South Carolina Police Shooting Video Says |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |website=KTLA |location=Los Angeles, California |url=http://ktla.com/2015/04/09/walter-scott-didnt-grab-taser-man-who-recorded-south-carolina-police-shooting-video-says/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531142140/http://ktla.com/2015/04/09/walter-scott-didnt-grab-taser-man-who-recorded-south-carolina-police-shooting-video-says/ |archive-date=May 31, 2015 |url-status=live}}

After Scott was shot and had dropped to the ground, Slager approached him, repeatedly instructed him to place his hands behind his back, and handcuffed him, leaving him face down on the ground.[https://www.thecut.com/2015/04/why-cops-handcuff-dead-people.html Why Cops Handcuff Dead People]. The Cut.Jesse Singal. April 8, 2015. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150411022525/http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=2665&issue_id=52012 Police Chief Magazine Archive].{{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181115181804/https://www.thecut.com/2015/04/why-cops-handcuff-dead-people.html|date=November 15, 2018}} Although police reports stated that officers performed CPR on Scott, no such action is visible on the video.{{cite news |first1=Michael S. |last1=Schmidt |first2=Matt |last2=Apuzzo |title=South Carolina Officer Is Charged With Murder of Walter Scott |date=April 7, 2015 |access-date=April 15, 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/us/south-carolina-officer-is-charged-with-murder-in-black-mans-death.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407224310/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/us/south-carolina-officer-is-charged-with-murder-in-black-mans-death.html |archive-date=April 7, 2015 |url-status=live |newspaper=The New York Times}} The video shows that Slager ran back toward where the initial scuffle occurred and picked something up off the ground. Moments later, he dropped the object, possibly the Taser, beside Scott's body.{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/08/feidin-santana-bystander-walter-scott-shooting-interview |title= South Carolina shooting witness: victim 'just wanted to get away from the Taser' |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Jon |last=Swaine |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=April 17, 2015}}

Another officer, Clarence W. Habersham Jr., is seen in the video; he puts on medical gloves and appears to examine Scott.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/18/us/after-walter-scott-shooting-scrutiny-turns-to-2nd-officer.html|work=The New York Times |title=After Walter Scott Shooting, Scrutiny Turns to 2nd Officer |first=Manny |last=Fernandez |date=April 17, 2015 |access-date=April 27, 2015}}

Critics, such as the Reverend Al Sharpton and the predominantly African-American National Bar Association, called for the prosecution of Clarence Habersham, the second officer seen in the video, alleging an attempted cover-up and questioning "whether Habersham omitted significant information from his report." Critics also questioned Habersham's statement in his report that he "attempted to render aid to the victim by applying pressure to the gunshot wounds," saying that the videotape shows little attempt to aid Scott after the shooting.{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/3818729/clarence-habersham-walter-scott-shoting/ |title=South Carolina Shooting: Critics Want 2nd Officer in Video Prosecuted |first=Jack |last=Linshi |magazine=Time}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/04/12/critics-call-for-officer-prosecuted-carolina-shooting/S3nrDOW0CdBLZ2VqGsBYkN/story.html |title=Critics call for 2nd officer to be prosecuted in Carolina shooting |work=The Boston Globe |first=Alan |last=Blinder |date=April 13, 2015 |access-date=April 25, 2015}}

Slager's original lawyer, David Aylor, withdrew as counsel within hours of the release of the video; he did not publicly give a reason for his withdrawal, citing attorney–client privilege.{{cite news |first1=Frances |last1=Robles |first2=Alan |last2=Blinder |title=Seeing Path to Justice in Video of Shooting on Bystander's Phone |date=April 8, 2015 |access-date=July 5, 2015 |website=The New York Times |url=http://nyti.ms/1GQ0Jtq |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409230441/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/us/cellphone-video-of-michael-slager-shooting-walter-scott-is-seen-as-a-path-to-justice.html |archive-date=April 9, 2015 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Corey |last=Hutchins |title=Exclusive: Michael Slager's Attorney Dropped Him After Video Emerged |date=April 8, 2015 |access-date=July 5, 2015 |website=The Daily Beast |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/08/exclusive-michael-slager-s-attorney-dumped-him-as-soon-as-he-saw-video.html}}{{cite press release |title=Aylor No Longer Represents North Charleston Police Officer |url=http://davidaylor.com/press/aylor-no-longer-represents-north-charleston-police-officer/ |website=Official website of David Aylor |access-date=October 23, 2015}}

On {{nowrap|April 8}}, the North Charleston city manager announced that the NCPD had fired Slager but would continue to pay for his health insurance because his wife was pregnant.{{cite news |title=City takes action against cop who shot black man in back |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-carolina-police-officer-michael-slager-fired-shooting-walter-scott-back/ |access-date=April 8, 2015 |agency=Associated Press |website=CBS News |date=April 8, 2015}} The town's mayor, Keith Summey, said they had ordered an additional 150 body cameras, enough that one could be worn by every police officer.

A GoFundMe campaign was started to raise money for Slager's defense, but it was quickly shut down by the site. Citing privacy concerns, they declined to go into detail about why the campaign was canceled, saying only that it was "due to a violation of our terms and conditions".{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Lauren C |title=GoFundMe Rejects Campaign To Support South Carolina Officer Charged With Murder |url=http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/04/08/3644461/gofundme-rejects-campaign-support-south-carolina-officer-charged-murder/ |website=ThinkProgress |access-date=April 9, 2015}}

Scott's funeral took place on {{nowrap|April 11}}, at the W.O.R.D. Ministries Christian Center in Summerville, about 20 miles from North Charleston.{{cite news |title=Walter Scott Funeral: Mourners Pay Respects to South Carolina Man Killed by Cop |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/walter-scott-shooting/mourners-pay-respects-walter-scott-black-man-shot-south-carolina-n339791 |website=NBC News |access-date=April 11, 2015}}{{cite news |title=Walter Scott |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/charleston/obituary.aspx?pid=174599448 |newspaper=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina |via=Legacy.com |access-date=April 11, 2015}}

Scott's killing further fueled a national conversation around race and policing.{{cite news |first=Dana |last=Ford |title=New audio captures aftermath of deadly South Carolina shooting |date=April 14, 2015 |access-date=April 17, 2015 |website=CNN |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/13/us/south-carolina-police-shooting/index.html}} It has been connected to similar controversial police shootings of black men in Missouri, New York, and elsewhere.{{cite news |title=From Trayvon Martin to Walter Scott: Cases in the Spotlight |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=April 23, 2015 |magazine=Time |url=https://time.com/3814982/walter-scott-trayvon-martin-black-men-shootings/ |url-access=subscription }} The Black Lives Matter movement protested Scott's death.{{cite news |last1=Fields |first1=Liz |title=After Walter Scott Killing, Black Lives Matter Movement Calls For Citizen Oversight of Police |url=https://news.vice.com/article/after-walter-scott-killing-black-lives-matter-movement-calls-for-citizen-oversight-of-police |website=Vice |access-date=May 26, 2015}}

A bill in the South Carolina state house, designed to equip more police officers with body cameras, was renamed for Scott. The Senate set aside {{nowrap|$3.4 million}} to fund it, enough to buy 2,000 cameras for South Carolina officers.{{cite news |last1=Borden |first1=Jeremy |date=May 13, 2015 |title=Bill equipping more officers with body cameras OK'd, renamed for Walter Scott |website=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150513/PC1603/150519706/bill-equipping-more-officers-with-body-cameras-ok-x2019-d-renamed-for-walter-scott |access-date=May 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518012241/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150513/PC1603/150519706/bill-equipping-more-officers-with-body-cameras-ok-x2019-d-renamed-for-walter-scott |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |url-status=live}}

In May 2016,{{Cite news|last=Astorga-Garcia|first=Mila|date=August 19, 2016|title=Young Fil-Can's work wins as best short documentary in U.S. filmfest|url=http://philippinereporter.com/2016/08/19/young-fil-cans-work-wins-as-best-short-documentary-in-u-s-filmfest/|url-status=live|department=Community (News & Features)|work=Philippine Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818002936/http://philippinereporter.com/2016/08/19/young-fil-cans-work-wins-as-best-short-documentary-in-u-s-filmfest/|archive-date=18 August 2018|access-date=17 August 2018|quote=It [Frame 394] had its World Premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto in May 2016.}} a short documentary film about the shooting called Frame 394 was released by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.{{Cite news|last=O'Falt|first=Chris|date=December 9, 2016|title=Walter Scott Shooting Revisited: How This Oscar-Shortlisted Doc Shook Up a National Story|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/12/best-documentary-short-frame-394-walter-scott-daniel-voshart-oscar-1201756142/|url-status=live|work=IndieWire|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817233528/https://www.indiewire.com/2016/12/best-documentary-short-frame-394-walter-scott-daniel-voshart-oscar-1201756142/|archive-date=17 August 2018|access-date=17 August 2017|quote=The response was staggering—comments expressing hatred and violence toward Slager shocked Voshart, who was convinced the video was an example of police corruption at its worst. [...] It's during this process that he discovered something no one else had seen: There was something in frame 394 that challenged the accepted narrative of what transpired between Slager and Scott, and could potentially even help Slager's defense. [...] Directed by Rich Williamson, 'Frame 394' is about Voshart's moral dilemma of what to do with this potential key evidence.}}{{Cite news|last=Deschamps|first=Tara|date=March 10, 2017|title='Frame 394' documentary questions what happened in Walter Scott police shooting in South Carolina|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2017/03/10/frame-394-documentary-questions-what-happened-in-walter-scott-police-shooting-in-south-carolina.html|url-status=live|department=Entertainment (Movies)|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar|issn=0319-0781|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818000111/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2017/03/10/frame-394-documentary-questions-what-happened-in-walter-scott-police-shooting-in-south-carolina.html|archive-date=18 August 2018|access-date=17 August 2018|quote=Voshart's work drastically impacted the officer's trial. [...] Hundreds of miles away, in his Toronto apartment, Voshart, a then-28-year-old cinematographer who had recently been toying with video stabilization, thought he could unravel the mystery of the Taser and help get Slager indicted. [...] By then, Voshart had made the footage so clear that as Slager reached to unholster his gun, Scott could be seen holding what looked like Slager's Taser—potentially enough to make Slager fear for his life and maybe meet the grounds needed to use lethal force.}} The documentary is about Daniel Voshart, a Canadian cinematographer and image stabilization specialist, who claims to have discovered evidence in frame 394 of the shooting video "that challenged the accepted narrative of what transpired between Slager and Scott"; and it follows his "moral dilemma of what to do with this potential key evidence". Initially, Voshart examined the footage to help indict Slager, having been convinced by the footage that it "was an example of police corruption at its worst". After clarifying the video and inspecting frame 394, however, he noticed that as Slager began reaching to draw his firearm, it appeared that Scott was still holding Slager's Taser, "potentially enough to make Slager fear for his life and maybe meet the grounds needed to use lethal force." It was impactful in Slager's trial after Voshart showed Slager's lawyer, Andy Savage, the stabilized video. During the trial, the officer "testified that he did not realize the Taser had fallen behind him when he fired the fatal shots."{{Cite news |first=Mark |last=Berman |title=Former South Carolina police officer who shot Walter Scott sentenced to 20 years |date=December 7, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/12/07/former-south-carolina-police-officer-who-shot-walter-scott-sentenced-to-20-years |access-date=June 9, 2019}}

Separate investigations were conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Attorney in South Carolina, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Bowers |title=SLED awaiting approval to release Walter Scott dash cam footage |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |website=Charleston City Paper |url=http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/TheBattery/archives/2015/04/09/sled-awaiting-approval-to-release-walter-scott-dash-cam-footage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417040252/http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/TheBattery/archives/2015/04/09/sled-awaiting-approval-to-release-walter-scott-dash-cam-footage |archive-date=April 17, 2015 |url-status=live}} An autopsy was performed by the Charleston County coroner on April 4, 2015, which showed that Scott had been shot in the back multiple times. The coroner ruled the death a homicide.{{Cite web|date=April 8, 2015|title=Police Release Dash Cam Video Showing Walter Scott Being Pulled Over And Then Running|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/buzzfeednews/father-of-south-carolina-man-killed-by-officer-incident-woul|access-date=2020-09-29|website=BuzzFeed News|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Beeker|first=LaDonna|date=April 8, 2015|title=Coroner: Walter Scott died from gunshot wounds to the back|url=https://www.wistv.com/story/28748928/coroner-walter-scott-died-from-gunshot-wounds-to-the-back-from-michael-slager|access-date=2020-09-29|website=WisTV.com|language=en-US}}

After the police department reviewed the video, Slager was arrested on {{nowrap|April 7}} and charged with murder.{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Martinez |title=South Carolina cop shoots unarmed man: A timeline |date=April 8, 2015 |access-date=April 8, 2015 |website=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/08/us/south-carolina-cop-shoots-black-man-timeline/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422130450/http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/08/us/south-carolina-cop-shoots-black-man-timeline/ |archive-date=April 22, 2015 |url-status=live}} On {{nowrap|June 8}}, a South Carolina grand jury indicted Slager on the murder charge.{{cite news |title=Indictment against Michael Thomas Slager |date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=June 26, 2015 |website=Los Angeles Times |url=http://documents.latimes.com/indictment-against-michael-thomas-slager/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626202617/http://documents.latimes.com/indictment-against-michael-thomas-slager/ |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}{{refn|group=note|South Carolina law defines only one type of murder: "unlawful killing with malice aforethought".}}{{cite news |first1=Alan |last1=Blinder |first2=Timothy |last2=Williams |title=Former South Carolina Officer Indicted in Death of Walter Scott |date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |website=The New York Times |url=http://nyti.ms/1dqDZ8q}} The murder charge was the only charge presented to the grand jury.{{cite news |first=Harriet |last=Mcleod |title=South Carolina ex-police officer indicted in death of black man |date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-police-south-carolina-idUSKBN0OO1V520150608 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608162629/https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/08/us-usa-police-south-carolina-idUSKBN0OO1V520150608 |archive-date=June 8, 2015 |url-status=live}}

On {{nowrap|January 4}}, 2016, after being held without bail for almost nine months, Slager was released on $500,000 bond. He was confined to house arrest until the trial, which began {{nowrap|October 31}}, 2016.{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |title=Michael Slager, officer charged in Walter Scott shooting, is granted $500,000 bail |date=January 4, 2016 |access-date=January 4, 2016 |website=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20160104/PC16/160109767}}{{cite news |first1=Catherine E. |last1=Shoichet |first2=Chandler |last2=Friedman |title=Walter Scott case: Michael Slager granted bail |date=January 4, 2016 |access-date=January 4, 2016 |website=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/04/us/south-carolina-michael-slager-bail/}}{{cite news |title=Trial of Officer Seen on Video Shooting Black Man Starting |date=October 31, 2016 |access-date=October 31, 2016 |website=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/10/31/us/ap-us-police-shooting-north-charleston.html}} On {{nowrap|December 5}}, Judge Clifton Newman declared a mistrial after the jury became deadlocked with 11 of the 12 jurors favoring a conviction.{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Blinder |title=Jurors Unable to Agree in Trial of South Carolina Officer Who Shot Walter Scott |date=December 5, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2016 |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/05/us/walter-scott-michael-slager-north-charleston.html}} A retrial was scheduled for August 2017.{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |title=Judge pushes Michael Slager retrial to August, shifting focus to federal civil rights case |date=January 24, 2017 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |website=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/news/judge-pushes-michael-slager-retrial-to-august-shifting-focus-to/article_3a0b2a58-e24a-11e6-bf9f-4b275936b59c.html}} However, the state charges were dropped as a result of Slager pleading guilty to a federal charge.{{cite news |first1=Holly |last1=Yan |first2=Khushbu |last2=Shah |first3=Emanuella |last3=Grinberg |title=Ex-officer Michael Slager pleads guilty in death of Walter Scott|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/02/us/michael-slager-federal-plea/index.html |date=May 2, 2017 |website=CNN}}

On {{nowrap|May 11}}, 2016, Slager was indicted on federal charges of violating Scott's civil rights and unlawfully using a weapon during the commission of a crime. In addition, he was charged with obstruction of justice as a result of his statement to state investigators that Scott was moving toward him with the Taser when he shot him.[includes indictment document] {{cite news |first1=Chris |last1=Dixon |first2=Tamar |last2=Lewin |title=South Carolina Officer Faces Federal Charges in Fatal Shooting |date=May 11, 2016 |access-date=May 11, 2016 |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/us/south-carolina-officer-faces-federal-charges-in-fatal-shooting.html}} Slager pleaded not guilty, and a trial was scheduled to begin in May 2017.{{cite news |title=Fired Officer Wants Judge to Toss Video of Him Shooting Man |date=March 10, 2017 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |website=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/03/10/us/ap-us-police-shooting-north-charleston.html}} Slager faced up to life in prison if convicted.{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |title=Michael Slager to have first federal hearing since arraignment |date=August 4, 2016 |access-date=August 24, 2016 |website=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/20160804/160809728/michael-slager-to-have-first-federal-hearing-since-arraignment}}

On {{nowrap|May 2}}, 2017, as part of a plea agreement, Slager pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law (18 USC § 242). In return for the guilty plea, the charges of obstructing justice and use of a firearm during a crime of violence were dismissed.{{Cite web|url=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2017/images/05/02/slager.global.plea.agreement.pdf|title=Global Plea Agreement}}{{cite news |last1=Knapp |first1=Andrew |last2=Rindge |first2=Brenda |title=Ex-police officer Michael Slager pleads guilty to civil rights charge in Walter Scott shooting; state murder case dropped |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/news/ex-police-officer-michael-slager-pleads-guilty-to-civil-rights/article_c6836d4c-2f2f-11e7-a651-7f3c5a7bbf12.html |access-date=November 6, 2017|website=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina |date=May 2, 2017}}

On {{nowrap|December 7}}, 2017, U.S. District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Slager to 20 years in prison.{{Cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/slager-19-to-24-years-fatal-shooting-walter-scott-article-1.3683402 |title=Slager gets 19 to 24 years in fatal shooting of Walter Scott |last=Boroff |first=David |date=December 7, 2017 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=December 7, 2017}} Although defense attorneys had argued for voluntary manslaughter, the judge agreed with prosecutors that the "appropriate underlying offense" was second-degree murder. Because there is no parole in the federal justice system, Slager will likely remain in prison for about 18 years after credit for time served in jail.{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Pyke |title=Killer cop Michael Slager sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing Walter Scott |date=December 7, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |website=ThinkProgress |url=https://thinkprogress.org/michael-slager-sentenced-walter-scott-01afa76eec9e/}} He began serving his sentence in Colorado's Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood in February 2018.{{cite news |work=The Post and Courier |date=February 9, 2018 |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |title=Ex-policeman Michael Slager serving time at Colorado prison with Blagojevich, Jared Fogle |access-date=August 28, 2018 |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/ex-policeman-michael-slager-serving-time-at-colorado-prison-with/article_4c9ff9f8-0da2-11e8-9590-8b9c3bd417ed.html}} An appeal for reduction of sentence was denied in January 2019.{{Cite news |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/appeal-denied-for-ex-north-charleston-officer-who-fatally-shot/article_686408e0-136f-11e9-b38e-13983fcb1a8d.html |title=Appeal denied for ex-North Charleston officer who fatally shot Walter Scott |last1=Majchrowicz |first1=Michael |date=January 8, 2019 |work=The Post and Courier |access-date=January 10, 2019 |last2=Jackson |first2=Angie}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.wspa.com/news/michael-slager-s-conviction-appeal-denied/1692224725 |title=Michael Slager's conviction appeal denied |date=2019-01-08 |work=WSPA |location=Spartanburg, South Carolina |access-date=January 10, 2019 |agency=Associated Press}} As of 2023, Slager, Federal Bureau of Prisons #31292-171, is still at FCI Englewood; his earliest possible release is August 16, 2032.

In mid-2021, Slager went back to court asking for a reduction of his sentence. He claimed his defense was incompetent and that he was not involved in the negotiations over the plea deal.{{cite news |last1=Monk |first1=John |title=Federal judge questions merit in former cop's bid to reduce 20-year prison sentence |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article250622829.html#storylink=hpdigest_politics |access-date=14 April 2021 |publisher=The State |date=13 April 2021}} The court ruled against Slager and upheld the sentence.{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/judge-keeps-ex-cops-20-212306676.html|title=Judge keeps ex-cop's 20-year sentence for killing Black man|website=news.yahoo.com|date=April 19, 2021 }}

In an out-of-court settlement, the City of North Charleston agreed in October 2015 to pay {{nowrap|$6.5 million}} to Scott's family.{{cite news |first=Wesley |last=Lowery |title=North Charleston reaches $6.5 million settlement with Walter Scott's family |date=October 8, 2015 |access-date=July 30, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/10/08/north-charleston-reaches-6-5-million-settlement-with-walter-scotts-family/}}

The Walter Scott Notification Act is proposed federal legislation by U.S. Senator Tim Scott (no relation) of South Carolina to require the reporting of police shootings by any state receiving federal funding for law enforcement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wjbf.com/news/washington-dc/tim-scott-others-reintroduce-walter-scott-notification-act/|title=Tim Scott, others reintroduce Walter Scott Notification Act|date=June 3, 2020}}

{{Portal|Law|United States}}

• Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000003615939/video-shows-fatal-police-shooting.html |title=Video Shows Fatal Police Shooting |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 7, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015}} (with annotations and enhanced close up of a dropped object)
• {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2015/apr/09/north-charleston-shooting-police-scanner-video |title=Walter Scott shooting footage synced with police scanner audio – video |newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015}} (Entire video with annotations)

{{Black Lives Matter|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Walter}}

Category:2015 in South Carolina

Category:African-American-related controversies

Category:April 2015 in the United States

Category:Filmed killings by law enforcement

Category:Law enforcement in South Carolina

Category:North Charleston, South Carolina

Category:Protests in the United States

Category:Deaths by firearm in South Carolina

Category:Deaths by person in South Carolina

Category:People murdered by law enforcement officers in the United States

Category:Killings in South Carolina

Category:Murders by law enforcement officers in the United States