South Carolina police officer charged with murder after shooting man during traffic stop

Editor's note: This video contains graphic content. A police officer in North Charleston, S.C., has been charged with murder after shooting a man during a traffic stop. Authorities said the decision to charge officer Michael Slager was made after they viewed video footage of the incident that showed him shooting the other man in the back as he was fleeing the scene. (Obtained by The Washington Post)

By Mark Berman, Wesley Lowery and Kimberly Kindy April 7 at 8:09 PM

A white police officer in North Charleston, S.C., was charged with murder Tuesday after shooting and killing a black man following a routine traffic stop over the weekend.

L. Chris Stewart, a lawyer for the family of Walter Scott, said they were aware of officer Michael Slager’s arrest and questioned what would have happened if a witness to Scott’s shooting had not come forward. (Reuters)

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey says a white South Carolina police officer will be charged with murder over the shooting death of a black man. This comes after a video surfaced which appears to show the man fleeing from the officer. (Reuters)

South Carolina police officer Michael Thomas Slager was denied bond at a first appearance hearing after the release of a video that shows him firing several shots and killing a black man following a traffic stop. (AP)

South Carolina Police Officer Charged With Murder After Shooting Man During Traffic Stop by Thavam Ratna