OXFORD, Miss. -- Walter Scott, the 50-year-old unarmed black man who was shot and killed by a white police officer Saturday in North Charleston, South Carolina, was viewed as a father figure by Ole Miss defensive end Fadol Brown.

The redshirt junior from Charleston took to Twitter to express his grief for the man he considered to be family.

"Walter Scott was my step dad ...I loved him to death that cop didn't have to shoot him down like a dog like that ...gone miss you man," Brown tweeted.

"I loved him to death that cop didn't have to shoot him down like a dog like that ...gone miss you man," Fadol Brown tweeted about the death of Walter Scott. Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze released a statement Wednesday regarding Brown's loss and clarified Brown's relationship with Scott.

"Walter Scott was in a relationship with the mother of Fadol's longtime girlfriend and served as a father figure to Fadol for a number of years," Freeze said. "Obviously this is a very emotional and difficult time for all parties involved, and our thoughts are with Fadol and his loved ones after this tragic event."

Scott allegedly was fleeing a traffic stop when North Charleston police officer Michael Slager fired eight shots at him. Video of the incident was released Tuesday.

Slager originally said he feared for his life when Scott allegedly took his stun gun during a scuffle after the traffic stop. However, the video appears to show wires from the stun gun extending from Scott's body during the tussle before he turns to run away and Slager fires the shots.

Slager was charged with murder Tuesday.

Freeze said he and Brown spoke at length about the incident and that the school is exploring flight options to get Brown back to South Carolina to be with his family.

"He's hurting," Freeze said of Brown. "It's difficult. It looks tragic, it looks awful what you see. This is a guy who meant something to him, so it's tough.

"For me and for Fadol, who put our faith in something bigger than ourselves, there's hope that he's in a better place. That doesn't make things any easier, really. It will in time, but it's never easy."

Brown, who is expected to start for the Rebels this season, started nine games last year after transferring from Florida International in 2013. Brown finished the season with 38 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss, and had half a sack.