
Screenshot from the by-stander's video footage which shows Officer Michael Slager in the process of shooting a fleeing Walter Scott in the back.
'This is History': Police Officer Indicted on Federal Charges in Walter Scott Killing
Charges for former North Charleston officer include violation of civil rights law
A federal grand jury has indicted former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager for the fatal shooting of Walter Scott.
The April 4, 2015 shooting was captured on film by a bystander who later said, "I knew the cop didn't do the right thing."
A statement issued Wednesday from the Department of Justice says that the three-count indictment includes charges for a federal civil rights offense for the shooting, excessive force without legal justification, and obstruction of justice for making false statements to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators.
Slager, who is white, initially pulled over Scott, who is black, for having a broken tail light on his car. As Scott attempted to run away, the North Charleston officer shot the unarmed 50-year-old Navy veteran and father of four five times from behind.
A conviction on the charges mean a potential $250,000 fine and a maximum sentence of a life behind bars. The 34-year-old already faces an and indictment by a state court. The Post and Courier explains:
The new charges could serve as a backstop if the state's case against Slager were to fail. Putting him on trial in both state and federal courts for the same shooting would not be double jeopardy because the jurisdictions are considered sovereign.
"This is history in so many ways," said L. Chris Stewart, an attorney for Scott's family, according to CNN. "This never happens," he said of the indictment, citing cases like those of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin.
Indeed, as the Post and Courier reports, "The indictment makes the case one of the few high-profile American police killings in recent years to result in a federal criminal charge."
"If this can be the turning point, where the Justice Department is going to step in and help these families," Steward added, "then this is a great day."
Slager remains free on $500,000 state bail.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just days away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
A federal grand jury has indicted former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager for the fatal shooting of Walter Scott.
The April 4, 2015 shooting was captured on film by a bystander who later said, "I knew the cop didn't do the right thing."
A statement issued Wednesday from the Department of Justice says that the three-count indictment includes charges for a federal civil rights offense for the shooting, excessive force without legal justification, and obstruction of justice for making false statements to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators.
Slager, who is white, initially pulled over Scott, who is black, for having a broken tail light on his car. As Scott attempted to run away, the North Charleston officer shot the unarmed 50-year-old Navy veteran and father of four five times from behind.
A conviction on the charges mean a potential $250,000 fine and a maximum sentence of a life behind bars. The 34-year-old already faces an and indictment by a state court. The Post and Courier explains:
The new charges could serve as a backstop if the state's case against Slager were to fail. Putting him on trial in both state and federal courts for the same shooting would not be double jeopardy because the jurisdictions are considered sovereign.
"This is history in so many ways," said L. Chris Stewart, an attorney for Scott's family, according to CNN. "This never happens," he said of the indictment, citing cases like those of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin.
Indeed, as the Post and Courier reports, "The indictment makes the case one of the few high-profile American police killings in recent years to result in a federal criminal charge."
"If this can be the turning point, where the Justice Department is going to step in and help these families," Steward added, "then this is a great day."
Slager remains free on $500,000 state bail.
A federal grand jury has indicted former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager for the fatal shooting of Walter Scott.
The April 4, 2015 shooting was captured on film by a bystander who later said, "I knew the cop didn't do the right thing."
A statement issued Wednesday from the Department of Justice says that the three-count indictment includes charges for a federal civil rights offense for the shooting, excessive force without legal justification, and obstruction of justice for making false statements to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators.
Slager, who is white, initially pulled over Scott, who is black, for having a broken tail light on his car. As Scott attempted to run away, the North Charleston officer shot the unarmed 50-year-old Navy veteran and father of four five times from behind.
A conviction on the charges mean a potential $250,000 fine and a maximum sentence of a life behind bars. The 34-year-old already faces an and indictment by a state court. The Post and Courier explains:
The new charges could serve as a backstop if the state's case against Slager were to fail. Putting him on trial in both state and federal courts for the same shooting would not be double jeopardy because the jurisdictions are considered sovereign.
"This is history in so many ways," said L. Chris Stewart, an attorney for Scott's family, according to CNN. "This never happens," he said of the indictment, citing cases like those of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin.
Indeed, as the Post and Courier reports, "The indictment makes the case one of the few high-profile American police killings in recent years to result in a federal criminal charge."
"If this can be the turning point, where the Justice Department is going to step in and help these families," Steward added, "then this is a great day."
Slager remains free on $500,000 state bail.