Totally with you.
This really does look bad, but I have already gone on several points that are NOT clear that both media and/or JoeSchmoe are promulgating as “obvious” when they are not from the Scott video.
-what happened to precipitate this
-how many shots actually hit (5 of 8 is standard right now, but not 8 although that is the hype - 8 shots; i.e., he plugged him mercilessly)
-what is the thing that white guy picks up (”it’s the taser!”)
-why is it dropped (”to plant evidence by the body!”)
-why does this happen at all (”racism!”)
All answers are dubious, although indeed the film makes it look like there is no excuse for him shooting someone running away.
the early video quality is poor, but Slager’s uniform contrasts with the background. it looks like Slager is on the ground at 6 seconds and again at 8.
you can’t see where Scott is because of his green top against the green background.
so it appears there is quite a wrestling match going on.
given all the fighting etc. if Slager was just a trigger happy racist cop, he could have shot Scott at that point and claimed, “resisted arrest, grabbed for my gun...”
as it was, the first thing he did was try the taser, which shows at least some effort at proportional use of force
after the taser was knocked out of his hand, then he started blasting.
even with all that, it still looks like excessive force. but i am reserving judgement