As the world now knows (though many refuse to acknowledge) the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson was justifiable. Never mind the grand jury no-bill, even the politically motivated Justice Department investigation found nothing to contradict officer Darren Wilson’s side of the story. “Hands up, don’t shoot” was a lie. But the shooting of Walter Scott by South Charleston, Sough Carolina officer Michael Slager Saturday, which was caught on video, appears to be a different kettle of fish . . .
As nytimes.com reports,
The officer, Michael T. Slager, 33, said he had feared for his life because the man had taken his stun gun in a scuffle after a traffic stop on Saturday. A video, however, shows the officer firing eight times as the man, Walter L. Scott, 50, fled. The North Charleston mayor announced the state charges (of murder) at a news conference Tuesday evening.
It’s very early days in the process and there are months of investigation are still to come. Reports this morning indicate that Officer Slager has been fired. And the race hustling industry is undoubtedly in the process of getting themselves down to Carolina to enflame the situation. Stay tuned.