The family of Walter Scott, the unarmed black man shot in the back and killed allegedly by South Carolina police officer Michael Slager, hailed the decision to charge Slager with murder as “justice” on Tuesday night.
“Through the process, justice has been served,” said Anthony Scott, Walter Scott’s brother, at a news conference.
Anthony Scott and supporters of the family called for reforms that could improve the way police officers treat minority communities.
{mosads}”I don’t think that all police officers are bad cops, but there are some bad ones out there,” Anthony Scott said. “And I don’t want to see anyone get shot down like my brother got shot down.
Lawyers for the family said they intended to file a civil suit in the case — though it was unclear who they would file against.
The conference took place hours after The New York Times released a video of the Saturday shooting in North Charleston, S.C. In the video, the officer, identified as Slager, shoots Scott in the back as he runs away. Eight shots are heard before Scott falls to the ground.
Slager reportedly claimed in the aftermath of the shooting that he had feared for his life because Scott had taken his taser.