Sean Groubert (pictured) is facing up to 20 years in prison after pleaded guilty to shooting an unarmed black driver seconds after a traffic stop

A white South Carolina trooper is facing up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to shooting an unarmed black driver seconds after a traffic stop.

Sean Groubert, 32, pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in the shooting of Levar Jones.

The shooting on September 4, 2014, in Columbia, was captured on dash-cam video from the trooper's patrol car.

The clip shocked the country, coming during a wave of questionable police shootings.

Jones had been walking into a convenience store in September 2014 when Groubert got out of his patrol car and demanded his driver's license.

Jones turned back to reach into his car and Groubert opened fire with his semi-automatic and shots four round.

In the video, Jones' wallet is seen flying out of his hands. As he writhed in agony on the ground, he asked the trooper: 'Why did you shoot me sir?'

Groubert's boss, state Public Safety Director Leroy Smith, fired Groubert after seeing the clip.

Jones was shot in the hip and survived.

He walked into the courtroom on Monday with a noticeable limp and played with a Rubik's Cube before the hearing started.

Video of the encounter was played in the courtroom and showed Groubert pulling up to Jones without his siren on, and the trooper asking Jones for his license after he also was out of his car.

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Sean Groubert (left) pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in the shooting of Levar Jones (right) second after a traffic stop

As Jones turns and reaches back into his car, Groubert shouts, 'Get outta the car, get outta the car.'

He begins firing and unloads a third shot as Jones staggers away, backing up with his hands raised, and then a fourth. From the first shot to the fourth, the video clicks off three seconds.

As Jones cried in pain waiting for an ambulance, he repeated: 'Why did you shoot me?'

Through Jones' painful groans, Groubert replied: 'Well, you dove head first back into your car.'

He was led out of a courtroom in handcuffs after a judge ordered him to jail as he awaits sentencing.

No date was set for the sentencing after Groubert entered his plea.

Video of the encounter was played in the courtroom and showed Groubert pulling up to Jones without his siren on, and the trooper asking Jones for his license after he also was out of his car

Circuit Judge Casey Manning said he wants time to think about Groubert's sentence. But the judge's decision to send the 32-year-old to jail indicates he will serve some prison time.

In an interview with the Daily Mail Online last year, Jones said the incident has left him traumatized and unable to work.

He said he had gone to the Shell gas station to buy cigarettes on his way home from work.

'I was just an innocent person pulling up at a gas station,' he said.

'The officer asked for my license and I tried not to look as a threat at any minute.

'I made it obvious that I was going for my wallet and as I was going to reach for it. He started shouting at me and opened fire.'

He said he wanted to see non-lethal methods introduced for police, new training in them, and supported bodycams for officers.

'I could have been killed too,' he said. 'I was shot for nothing and even as I was on the ground wounded the officer asked for my ID.'

He said: 'I am here to support and help other victims of police brutality because I am the survivor.'