Protests were taking place at North Charleston City Hall on Wednesday morning as local leaders appealed for calm


A white police officer who gunned down a fleeing, unarmed black man appeared to plant his service-issue Taser gun at the side of the victim's lifeless body, according to shocking videotape which emerged in the wake of the senseless killing.

Patrolman Michael Slager, 33, opened fire on father-of-four Walter Scott, 50, in North Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday morning after reportedly stopping him over a broken tail light.

Slager was charged with murder on Tuesday and could face the death penalty after the incendiary footage emerged. The officer had previously defended his actions, saying he feared for his life after Scott wrestled his Taser gun from him during a scuffle.

However, cellphone footage from the scene showed Scott getting around 15-20 feet away before Slager opened fire with seven shots in quick succession followed by an eighth. The 50-year-old U.S. Coast Guard veteran was hit five times.

The officer then slowly walked toward him and ordered Scott to put his hands behind his back, but the man didn't move.

Slager then handcuffed his lifeless body before jogging back to where he had fired the shots to pick up an object from the ground - possibly the Taser.

The officer then returned to Scott where a second officer was on the scene. Slager can be seen on video tape appearing to drop an object next to the victim's body.

The footage also contradicted police claims that officers performed CPR on the suspect.

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Officer Michael Slager, 33, was caught on videotape holding an object - possibly his Taser - after he shot dead unarmed father-of-four Walter Scott whose body can be seen lying on the ground to the left of the screen

Officer Michael Slager was caught on video tape on Saturday picking up an object - possibly his Taser - from where the confrontation started with Walter Scott and appearing to move it over to the father-of-four's dead body

Slager appeared to be unaware he was being filmed when he fired eight shots at Scott then handcuffed his lifeless body before jogging back (pictured) to collect something he had dropped around 20 feet away

The officer appeared to drop his Taser next to the 50-year-old father-of-four's body in the vacant lot on Saturday in North Charleston. The officer's earlier statement of the shooting did not add up to what a video clip revealed on Tuesday

Walter Scott was seen on camera fleeing from Officer Michael Slager, who draws his weapon in a shocking sequence captured on Saturday in Charleston, South Carolina, which led to Scott's death

Opening fire: Michael Slager, a police officer in Charleston, South Carolina, was caught on video shooting dead 50-year-old black man Walter Scott after reportedly stopping him over a broken tail light on Saturday

Gunned down: Former coast guard Walter Scott is pictured above crumpling to the ground after the eighth shot is fired by Officer Slager

Scott collapsed face-down on a patch of grass. Slager then walked over, shouted at him to put his hands behind his back, then handcuffed him

Aftermath: Officer Slager is pictured standing over Walter Scott and feeling for a pulse after he put the man's fallen body in handcuffs. According to police reports, officers performed CPR on the 50-year-old father - but the cop was not filmed giving any medical assistance

A law enforcement colleague of Slager then arrived and put on blue medical gloves before handling the body, but was not seen giving any medical assistance

The parents of Walter Scott told the Today show on Wednesday that they wanted justice for their son.

'It would have never come to light. They would have swept it under the rug, like they did with so many others,' Walter Scott Sr said.

The way he [Slager] was shooting that gun, it looked like he was trying to kill a deer... I don't know whether it was racial, or it was something wrong with his head. The African-American victim's father, Walter Scott Sr, on his son's murder by a white cop in South Carolina

Mr Scott Sr added: 'The way he [Slager] was shooting that gun, it looked like he was trying to kill a deer... I don't know whether it was racial, or it was something wrong with his head.'

An outraged representative of Scott's family added: 'This was a cop who felt like he could get away with just shooting anybody that many times in the back.'

The killing comes at a time of mounting unrest over police use of force - particularly against black men - after violent protests erupted over the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri last summer.

Justice Department spokeswoman Dena Iverson said the FBI would also investigate the shooting.

The footage began rolling in a vacant lot apparently moments after Slager fired his Taser.

Slager claimed he tried to Taser the victim during the scuffle, but said Scott managed to wrest the stun gun away, prompting him to draw his pistol.

At that point, the officer said he fired at Scott several times, saying he 'felt threatened' by the Coast Guard veteran.

At no point in the video, which does not show the initial contact between the men, does Scott appear to be armed.

Killing: Walter Scott, left, was killed by Michael Slager, right. Scott was in the Coast Guard for two years, and is pictured left in uniform. Slager is being held in jail on murder charges, and is pictured right in his prison mugshot

Walter Scott's brother, Anthony Scott, hugs visitors outside his home near North Charleston, South Carolina on Wednesday. A police officer has been charged with his brother's murder

Walter Scott, 50, from South Carolina, leaves a fiancée, two siblings and four children. He was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard

Mr Scott shared a picture on social media of his days in the U.S. Coastguard. According to his own caption, he is pictured on the far left

'It just tore my heart to pieces': Elderly mother of Walter Scott sobs as she describes the moment she saw her son gunned down by a police officer on video as family pledges to file a civil lawsuit The mother of Walter Scott sobbed on Wednesday as she recalled the moment her heart 'tore to pieces' as watched footage of her son, 50, running for his life in Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday. In an interview with GMA, Judy Scott said: 'When I looked at that tape, it was the most horrible thing I've ever seen, I am very, very upset concerning it it. I almost couldn't look at it. 'To see my son running defensively and being shot – it just tore my heart to pieces. I pray that this never happens to another person – this has to got to stop.' Seated between her son, Anthony Scott, and the family's lawyer, Chris Stewart, Mrs Scott was visibly distressed as she added: 'From a child he has been raised in the church. 'From day one he sang in the choir, he played the drums he would call his mom every single day. They never got in trouble they had a beautiful childhood and I had no problem.' Walter Scott's brother, Anthony, said when he arrived at the scene where his brother died he felt something was not right instantly. 'The police told me had died. That is all they gave me. I already knew he had been Tasered – I thought that's what had actually happened. He had gotten Tasered to death. 'But then my nephew told me he had died.' The family's lawyer Chris Stewart said they will be 'seeking recovery to the full extent of the law'. 'We can see how disgraceful the incident this is. His civil rights were directly violated and we're going to be filing a major civil lawsuit against all the responsible parties from this tragedy.' Advertisement

Walter Scott's parents, Judy and Walter Sr, spoke on Wednesday to say that they wanted justice for their son and if it had not been for the cellphone footage, his death would have been swept under the rug, 'like so many others'

Muhiydin D'Baha leads a group protesting the shooting death of Walter Scott at city hall in North Charleston, South Carolina on Wednesday. Scott was killed by a North Charleston police office after a traffic stop on Saturday. The officer, Michael Thomas Slager, has been charged with murder

Nicole King, a friend of shooting victim Walter Scott, is comforted by friends during a rally in front of City Hall on Wednesday morning, pictured left, and right, Reverend Dr. Arthur Prioleau holds a sign during a protest

Scott collapsed face-down on a patch of grass. Slager then walked over, shouted at him to put his hands behind his back, then handcuffed him.

Footage then appeared to show Slager jogging back to the point where the Taser fell to the ground, bringing it over to Scott's body around 30 feet away and dropping it next to him.

According to police reports, officers performed CPR on Scott.

But video showed that Scott remained face down on the floor for several minutes without being given any medical attention.

It was only after two-and-a-half minutes that Slager was seen placing his hand on Scott's neck in an apparent attempt to check his pulse.

A black law enforcement colleague then arrived and put on blue medical gloves before handling the body, but was not seen giving any medical assistance.

The two cops were later joined by a third officer, who also did not appear to tend to the victim.

As soon as emergency responders arrived, they pronounced Scott dead at the scene.

Within hours of the footage, acquired by the Charleston Post and Courier, emerging on Tuesday, authorities filed the murder charges and arrested Slager.

HOW THE VIDEO CASTS DOUBT ON POLICE ACCOUNTS OF THE SHOOTING POLICE VERSION Police officer Michael Slager said in a statement earlier this week that his encounter with Walter Scott began at around 9.30am on Saturday. He said he pulled Scott's Mercedes over as a routine traffic stop for a broken brake light. He said Scott then ran away into a vacant grassy lot where, at some point during the chase, the victim confronts Slager. The officer then tried to use his Taser to subdue Scott, but claims the suspect grabbed the stun gun during the struggle, according to the statement. According to police reports, Slager fired the stun gun, but it did not stop Scott. At that point, the officer fired at Scott several times because he 'felt threatened,' Slager's statement said. He added that his actions were in line with procedure. Police then said Slager reported on his radio moments after the struggle: 'Shots fired and the subject is down. He took my Taser.' His department said the officers then performed CPR and delivered first aid to the victim. WHAT THE VIDEO SHOWS Slager’s account has been called into question after the video appears to show him shooting Scott in the back. The footage begins in the vacant lot apparently moments after Slager fires his Taser. Wires which administer the electrical current appear to be extending from Scott's body. As Scott turns to run, Slager draws his pistol and, only when he is 15 to 20 feet away, starts to fire the first of the eight shots at his back. The video shows Slager handcuffing Scott's lifeless body. Footage then appears to show Slager jogging back to the point where the Taser fell to the ground, bringing it over to Scott's body around 30 feet away and dropping it next to him. It is only after two-and-a-half minutes that Slager is seen placing his hand on Scott's neck in an apparent attempt to check his pulse. A black colleague then arrives and puts on blue medical gloves before handling the body, but is not seen performing first aid. They are joined by a third officer, who also does not appear to tend to the victim. Advertisement

The cop faces up to life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.

Keith Summey, the mayor of North Charleston, termed the killing a 'bad decision' at a press conference announcing the charges.

He said: 'When you're wrong, you're wrong. When you make a bad decision, don't care if you're behind the shield or a citizen on the street, you have to live with that decision.'

On Monday, an attorney for the officer had issued a statement putting across Slager's version of events.

He said the officer 'felt threatened and reached for his department-issued firearm and fired his weapon'.

The statement, reported by the The Post and Courier, added: 'Officer Slager believes he followed all the proper procedures and policies of the North Charleston Police Department'.

In the wake of the murder charges, the lawyer no longer represents him.

Jailed: Slager, pictured left, at a booking hearing in court on Tuesday, and, right, in police uniform, has been with North Charleston police since 2009. He stayed silent except to thank the judge

A statement initially issued by Slager said that he turned to his gun after Scott wrested the Taser away from him. Slager claimed he shot Scott because he 'felt threatened' by him.

Under South Carolina law, Slager could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted of murder.

A lawyer for the family on Tuesday said that the footage shows Slager 'casually' taking Scott's life, and acting as if there would be no repercussions.

Attorney L. Chris Stewart said: 'This was a cop who felt like he could get away with just shooting anybody that many times in the back. He just casually shot a man that many times in the back.'

This was a cop who felt like he could get away with just shooting anybody that many times in the back. He just casually shot a man that many times in the back. What happened today doesn't happen all the time - what if there was no video? What if there was no witness - or hero - to come forward? Scott family attorney L. Chris Stewart

He added: 'At the moment he turned and ran and was not a threat to anybody else that officer was completely unjustified.'

Scott may have tried to run from the officer because he owed child support, which can get someone sent to jail in South Carolina until they pay it back, Stewart said.

He had four children, was engaged and had been honorably discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Stewart said the family would also pursue civil charges against Slager, saying they were angry at the way the police department sought to defend the police officer until the video emerged.

He also said that without the video, and the 'hero' who recorded it, there would have been no murder charges.

He told TV crews: 'What happened today doesn't happen all the time - what if there was no video? What if there was no witness - or hero - to come forward?

'The initial reports stated something totally different - the officer said Mr Scott attacked him and tried to use his Taser on him. But somebody was watching.'

Scott's brother, Anthony, spoke after his brother's death. He said Walter had a fiancée, two siblings and four children.

He told WCIV: 'My brother is a kind and sweet person. He talked to everybody, knew all our family members by name, anybody that came in touch with Walter loved him.'

'He loved the [Dallas] Cowboys. We had planned to go to go see them play but I guess that won't happen now.'

At a press conference on Tuesday evening, Anthony Scott spoke out again.

Grief: Scott's brother Anthony, right, spoke alongside his younger brother Rodney, left, at a press conference Tuesday

He said: 'From the beginning, all we wanted was the truth... we can't get my brother back and my family is in deep mourning, but the process of justice has been served.

He later added: 'I don't wanna see anyone get shot down the way that my brother got shot down.

'I asked that everyone continue to pray for my family, that we get through this - because we need prayer.'

'IT HAS TO END': ANGRY REACTIONS TO WALTER SCOTT SHOOTING FROM CELEBRITIES The shooting of Walter Scott by police officer Michael Slagerprovoked a wave of anger and grief from celebrities on Twitter. Writer-director Joss Whedon tweeted: 'At this point, the Slager murder seems like a message, a mafia thing, like it's meant to shut people down or set them off. IT HAS TO END.' TV anchor Geraldo Rivera added: 'No spin-video clearly shows white N. Charleston cop shooting fleeing black man 8 times in the back... If this guy’s acquitted I’ll join protest.' R&B singer Janelle Monáe said: 'This brought tears to my eyes. #WalterScott reminds me of my uncle, family. Can only imagine the pain his fam feels.' Musician Questlove wrote: 'I believe in waiting to hear everything before casting opinion. But allow me the preemptive...uh...shot of "I feared for my life" my ass.' Advertisement

Meanwhile, the person who filmed the video was speaking with investigators and will come forward publicly 'at some point,' the family attorney said.

Activists planned to protest at North Charleston City Hall on Wednesday at 9.30am, but civil rights leaders have called for calm, with many praising the courage of the witness who filmed the killing for coming forward.

'This is what happens... when people are willing to step up and do the right thing for the right reasons,' State Representative Justin Bamber told reporters late on Tuesday.

The shooting took place in North Charleston, which is home to about 100,000 people, nearly half of whom are black, according to U.S. Census data from 2010.

By contrast, only about 18 per cent of its police department's roughly 340 officers are black, the local Post and Courier newspaper reported last year.

According to the Post and Courier, Scott had a warrant out for his arrest from family court at the time of his death.

He has been arrested around ten times, mostly for contempt of court charges for failing to pay child support, included one accusation of a violation stemming from an assault and battery charge in 1987, the paper reported.

Slager, also formerly a member of the Coast Guard, had not previously been disciplined by the department, the Post and Courier said.

He has two stepchildren and a pregnant wife.

The paper reported that in 2013 a man accused him of shooting him with a stun gun without cause, but that Slager was cleared of wrongdoing by an internal police investigation.

The shooting occurred at a time of heightened scrutiny over police officer shootings, particularly those that involve white officers and unarmed black suspects.

A grand jury declined to indict white Ferguson officer Darren Wilson over the fatal shooting of Brown last August, sparking nationwide protests.

Outgoing federal Attorney General Eric Holder has threatened Ferguson with a lawsuit if it fails to fulfill a set of recommendations to overhaul its law enforcement and municipal court system.

Thousands also protested in the streets last year after the death of 43-year-old Eric Garner, who gasped 'I can't breathe' as police arrested him for allegedly selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.

In a separate case in South Carolina, a white police officer who shot a 68-year-old black man dead last year in his driveway was charged yesterday with discharging a gun into an occupied vehicle.

Pulled over: The Mercedes that Scott was driving when he was stopped apparently over a burned-out tail light

A prosecutor previously tried to indict North Augusta officer Justin Craven on a manslaughter charge in the February 2014 death of Ernest Satterwhite.

But a grand jury instead chose misconduct in office, which is a far lesser charge.

Craven chased Satterwhite for nine miles beyond city limits to the man's driveway in Edgefield County.

After Satterwhite parked, the officer repeatedly fired through the driver-side door, prosecutors said.

The 25-year-old officer faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the gun charge.

North Charleston is South Carolina's third-largest city and for years battled back from an economic slump caused by the closing of the Charleston Naval Base on the city's waterfront in the mid-1990s.

But now the city has bounced back in a big way, largely in part to the huge investment by Boeing.

The aircraft manufacturer has a 787 aircraft manufacturing plant in the city and employs about 7,500 people in South Carolina, most of them in North Charleston.

Won't take it lying down: Demonstrators lie on the street in front of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration on Tuesday in Los Angeles as part of a march in memory of people who have been killed by law enforcement