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A South Carolina grand jury returned a murder indictment on Monday against a former police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man in April.

Officer Michael Slager of the North Charleston police was captured on video firing eight shots at Walter Scott on April 4 as Scott was running away from him.

The indictment was announced by Scarlett Wilson, a state prosecutor. She said that murder was the only charge presented to the grand jury.

Slager had been charged with murder almost immediately.

The officer initially claimed that Scott, 50, grabbed his Taser after a traffic stop. Video captured by a bystander showed a confrontation, then Scott running away, then Slager firing eight times at some distance.

It was the latest in a string of shootings that ignited debate about police tactics, particularly the shooting of unarmed black men. Scott was black; Slager is white.

Wilson said previously that Slager was probably not eligible for the death penalty.