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Cop who shot at unarmed black man 8 times in the back could face death penalty, life in prison
Fusion ^ | April 7, 2015 | Daniel Rivero

Posted on 04/08/2015 1:56:00 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued

A white police officer in North Charleston, South Carolina has been charged with murder after video emerged of him shooting an unarmed black man in the back while he was trying to run away, reports the Charleston Post and Courier. The two had been involved in a scuffle.

The man, 50-year-old Walter Scott, died Saturday after Patrolman 1st Class Michael Slager, 33, shot at him eight times, though it is not immediately clear how many shots hit him. Scott had been stopped for a broken tail light, and he ran from police “because he owed child support,” said his family, according to New York Times reporter Matt Apuzzo.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Keith Summey said that the officer’s “bad decision” had led to his arrest on the charge of murder.

(Excerpt) Read more at fusion.net ...


TOPICS: Issues
KEYWORDS: classmichaelslager; copbashingonfr; keithsummey; larrysummey; leo; northcharleston; southcarolina; walterscott
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To: Quality_Not_Quantity

Good point. That’s what I thought ... thanks for clarifying.


81 posted on 04/09/2015 8:25:27 AM PDT by glennaro
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To: Clintonfatigued

not to defend this policeman, but I only briefly caught a glimpse of the video and it looked like the suspect was fighting with the policeman, and possibly going to the gun, then decided to bolt-

Again, not sticking up for cop- however, IF that was the case, then it is possible the cop ‘might have felt’ the perp ‘could have had’ a gun of his own, and when the perp began looking back as he’s running away, the cop ‘could have felt’ the perp might have been looking for an opportunity to turn and shoot the cop

This probably isn’t what took place, as again, I only very briefly caught the beginning of video, and most likely this cop DID commit murder- however, I’d like to see the whole context of the video


82 posted on 04/09/2015 10:37:15 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: Conscience of a Conservative

[[makes me wonder about what has happened in previous cases]]

Yep

we had a high speed chase, that ended in a crash and the perp running into the woods where the snow was 4 feet deep- cops were screaming to the scene in droves, there was a river between perp and the deep woods, so he wasn’t going anywhere- a female police officer and young rookie cop hit the scene first, run into the woods, and shoot the dude DESPITE the fact that droves of police were screeching to a halt just as the shots rang out- The dude was mired in snow, couldn’t run anwhere- had a river stopping him, and was unarmed- he was only 30-40 feet into the woods, stuck in snow, yet the police maintain that ‘he went for our guns’? There were like 15 cops on the scene as the shot rang out- what the hell was a tiny female cop and a rookie cop doing getting close to him In the first place when there was so many police just arriving on the scene? There were no witnesses, so of course no one will ever know what really happened, but I did go to the scene and there was no way that dude was going ANYWHERE In that deep snow, and could have been very easily subdued via taser IF the female and rookie felt they couldn’t wait 20 seconds for the rest of the crew to exit their vehicles-

Tragic death blamed on the victim because there were no witnesses other than people who heard everything but weren’t close enough to see-

Anyways-


83 posted on 04/09/2015 10:46:51 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: kaila

kaila you do not need to fear the police based on one bad experience- there are PLENTY of good cops out there who WILL give you every break when you or I don’t deserve it- Yes, there are some creeps o n the force, however, there are less and less these days, and police really are taking ‘sensitivity classes’ and are becoming much more sympathetic to people’s circumstances, and many do give massive breaks to folks who probably should have them- but under the circumstances the police felt it prudent-

The problem is we ONLY hear about the bad cases- we NEVER hear about the hero cops, the cops who HELP people and go out of their way to help them etc etc etc-

Don’t let one or two bad experiences sway your view of all cops- there really are lots of great cops out there who really do care about the public and would have NEVER treated you the way that one jerk cop did


84 posted on 04/09/2015 10:58:08 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: jjsheridan5
The rush to judgement based on a single video is disgusting.

I might agree with you but for the reality that as the cop was finishing emptying his clip into the guy, the soon to be dead guy was, what, 15-20 years away with his back turned to the cop.

The video shows no evidence of premeditation

Agreed.

Rightly or wrongly, a non-police officer shooting someone after an altercation is generally not going to get the death penalty. Cops shouldn't be held to lower standards, of course; but they shouldn't be held to higher ones, either.

Agree that the cop will not get the death penalty. Quite disagree with the notion that a sworn officer of the law should not be held to a higher standard. I don't think we should hold them to the same standard as a murderer in the drug trade. JMO.

Throughout most of history, fleeing from the police has been a good way to get yourself killed. He may not have deserved death, but he was an idiot.

Thanks for your opinion.

It doesn't look good for the cop at all

Choices are a bitch, aren't they?

85 posted on 04/09/2015 11:43:31 AM PDT by dmz
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To: RetSignman

Based upon my one visit to Myrtle Beach (I was vacationing at Hilton Head) I coined the phrase “the carney capital of the Carolinas.

When we were telling folks on Hilton Head that we would be going up to MB to check out Bike week, they all asked why and gave us the look like you aren’t really serious about that are you. When we got there we knew what they meant and were trying to convey.


86 posted on 04/09/2015 11:48:15 AM PDT by shotgun
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To: ansel12

Dude missed his true place in the Einsatzgruppen.


87 posted on 04/09/2015 11:52:07 AM PDT by Stentor ("The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.")
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To: dmz
Quite disagree with the notion that a sworn officer of the law should not be held to a higher standard.

The problem is that, increasingly, cops are being judged in the court of public opinion, to a substantially lower level of evidentiary standards than that enjoyed by the criminals that they have to deal with on a daily basis. While it is true that it is vital that the police be held to the standard of the law, and while it is equally true that the gravest societal damage done by rogue or crooked cops is to other cops, if there is one group of individuals who have earned the right to due process, it is the police.

As I said, increasingly, they are denied such process. Had the evidence not overwhelmingly supported the account of Officer Wilson, he would never have found a fair trial. He would soon to be in jail, or dead, because people are so willing to believe that the cops are in the wrong (in fact, not just willing to believe, but almost expectant). Even here on FR, where you would expect more in the way of patience, fairness, and a recognition that evidence is often misleading, many were already leaning towards his guilt.

If this most recent cop killed with premeditation, or any other qualification that triggers the death penalty, he should hang. If he killed without any justification, in the heat of the moment, then he should certainly be punished to the same extent of the law that others would be, in a similar situation. If he did either, than he is a disgrace to his uniform, and no better than the criminals which the police are tasked with keeping away from the law abiding. But there are often grey areas, areas which don't show up well in a videotape. And, as I said, if there is any group of people deserving of due process, it the the police.

The reaction of the public, and even here on FR, is disgusting. Many think that due process consists solely of "well I can't think of a reason that justifies what I see on tape, therefore he should fry." If we cannot depend on conservatives to uphold the integrity of the process, then what hope is there? A cop (or any first responder, or anyone in the military, or anyone who voluntarily assumes a profession that personally endangers themselves in order to shield the rest of us) doesn't just deserve the protection of a calm, objective process, when "things look good". They deserve that protection especially when things look bad.
88 posted on 04/09/2015 8:35:03 PM PDT by jjsheridan5 (The next Ronald Reagan will not be a Republican, but rather a former Republican)
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To: Clintonfatigued
In South Carolina, murder carries a penalty of up to 30 years to life in prison, or the death penalty, said the state agency in charge of the investigation.

Baloney.

The death penalty is an option for murder with one or more "aggravating circumstances." The list can be found here:

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t16c003.php

I don't see anything there that would seem to apply in this case.

I've posted a good bit on this case in the last few days, and the cop's defenders have convinced me we should wait to finalize our decision as to his guilt until we've heard "his side of the story."

It's difficult for me to imagine a scenario in which what he did on tape would be justified, but I think it's reasonable to let him try to make that case. And possibly I just don't have a vivid enough imagination.

89 posted on 04/13/2015 3:38:06 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: ansel12
what was that object that he planted on the body

A good question.

I though it was interesting that he apparently thought better of planting it on the body, perhaps because of the camera dude 20 feet away, went back and picked it up.

Whatever it was, he hung it on his belt, so it's apparently some type of police equipment, probably the taser.

The whole thing is really weird, because he apparently also claimed the guy took his taser. So how did it wind up back on his belt unless he tampered with a crime scene?

90 posted on 04/13/2015 3:42:12 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: jjsheridan5
He shouldn't be penalized more a non-police officer would be.

Are you sure about that? A trained professional police officer shouldn't be held to a higher standard than Joe Blow?

I'm not trying to be snide, I'm sincerely asking the question. Seems to me police should be held to a higher standard because of the immense authority and power we grant them.

But I'm interested in an explanation of why they shouldn't be.

91 posted on 04/13/2015 3:46:05 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: Bob434

It is very well known that cops feel a very, very strong emotional need to stand by their brother cops even when they’re in the wrong. Even to lying for them.

In fact, cops who don’t do so have broken the code and are often shunned by other cops. “Us against them.” “My brothers right or wrong.”

This arises from the very real danger they face and their need to depend on each other, much the way military units develop a sense of brotherhood.

And that’s all to the good in many ways. I think of one of the Batman movies, where the Joker murders some cops and the rest cower in fear. Actual fact is that 30,000 cops would have been heading in to avenge their brothers, orders or no.

But it’s foolish to expect people with such a code of honor to investigate their brother or sister impartially.

Is it possible the cops are taking the “occupation mentality” they’ve always been accused of having in the black community out into the broader society?


92 posted on 04/13/2015 3:56:13 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: Bob434

speculation

cops have incentive to shoot in ambiguous scenarios involving perps because

(1) involuntary paid time off after all shootings

(2) shooting is regarded as ritual, increases fraternal bonding and trust with fellow officers

it would be interesting to know if there was a correlation between cop shootings and cop promotions


93 posted on 05/04/2015 11:03:16 AM PDT by SteveH
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To: SteveH

some random (and, allegedly, rare) statistics on cop shootings of perps (2011):

http://jimfishertruecrime.blogspot.com/2012/01/police-involved-shootings-2011-annual.html


94 posted on 05/04/2015 11:12:32 AM PDT by SteveH
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To: Clintonfatigued
Did they harvest the black victim's liver?

#BlackLiversMatter

95 posted on 07/30/2015 11:59:55 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Clintonfatigued

IIRC,Scott pulled into a parts store when he was pulled over for the broken taillight. He may have already been aware of it and was going to fix it? I’ve been pulled over for busted lights and given 24 hours to fix it and dismiss the ticket. This is a clear cut case of excessive force, if not outright murder.


96 posted on 10/25/2015 11:13:38 AM PDT by Impala64ssa (You call me an islamophobe like it's a bad thing.)
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To: molson209

Seriously??? A cop murders a man in cold blood and you think he should just walk?


97 posted on 11/15/2015 5:31:03 PM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: Clintonfatigued

Put him in a maximum security prison in the general population.


98 posted on 12/02/2015 10:11:01 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: shotgun

I went to MB one time. It’s like a giant adult carnival w/ tons of strip clubs & bars. Give me Charleston any day. Even the super touristy areas are 100 times more charming than MB.


99 posted on 01/19/2016 5:29:28 PM PST by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: Pearls Before Swine

Put him in the general population in a predominately black inmate prison.


100 posted on 03/16/2016 6:16:51 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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