Walter Scott Death Video: Disturbing Footage Prevented Police Shooting From Being ‘Swept Under The Rug,’ Victim’s Father Claims

The Walter Scott death video has made waves throughout the country, leading to murder charges against the South Carolina police officer seen in the footage firing eight rounds at a retreating Scott.

Now, the victim’s father says that disturbing footage is the difference between justice and the case being swept under the rug.

This week, a shaky cell phone video was released showing what appeared to be North Charleston police officer Michael Slager fatally shooting Walter Scott as the 50-year old man ran away. Shortly afterward, police announced first-degree murder charges against Slager.

The victim’s father, Walter Scott Sr., said the video of his son’s death made all the difference.

“It would have never come to light. They would have swept it under the rug, like they did with many others,” Walter Scott Sr. said of the video’s release. “When I saw it, I fell to my feet and my heart was broken.”

In an interview with Matt Lauer on NBC’s Today, Scott Sr. said the murder appeared to be cold-blooded.

“The way he [Slager] was shooting that gun, it looked like he was trying to kill a deer…I don’t know whether it was racial, or it was something wrong with his head,” Scott Sr. told Today‘s Matt Lauer.

Early news reports — which were published before the Walter Scott death video was released — noted that police said he struggled for the officer’s Taser.

The Post And Courier initially reported (with bold added by Think Progress):

“Police in a matter of hours declared the occurrence at the corner of Remount and Craig roads a traffic stop gone wrong, alleging the dead man fought with an officer over his Taser before deadly force was employed.”

…

“A statement released by North Charleston police spokesman Spencer Pryor said a man ran on foot from the traffic stop and an officer deployed his department-issued Taser in an attempt to stop him.
That did not work, police said, and an altercation ensued as the men struggled over the device. Police allege that during the struggle the man gained control of the Taser and attempted to use it against the officer.”

“The officer then resorted to his service weapon and shot him, police alleged.”

In the video of Walter Scott’s death, Michael Slager was seen picking something off the ground and dropping it near Scott’s body after the shooting, which many believe was the Taser the officer had accused Scott of trying to steal.

[Image via YouTube]