[null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.dw.com/en/south-carolina-officer-shooting-unarmed-black-man-a-throwback-to-the-19th-century/a-18370977", "unformatted_src": "/image/18366407_303.jpg", "src": "https://www.dw.com/image/18366407_303.jpg", "alt_text": "USA Polizist erschie\u00dft Mann Videostill"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.dw.com/en/south-carolina-officer-shooting-unarmed-black-man-a-throwback-to-the-19th-century/a-18370977", "unformatted_src": "/image/18370750_404.jpg", "src": "https://www.dw.com/image/18370750_404.jpg", "alt_text": "Protests in North Charleston", "rendered_width": 340, "rendered_height": 191}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.dw.com/en/south-carolina-officer-shooting-unarmed-black-man-a-throwback-to-the-19th-century/a-18370977", "unformatted_src": "/image/40229263_301.jpg", "src": "https://www.dw.com/image/40229263_301.jpg", "alt_text": "USA Amoklauf in Charleston", "rendered_width": 220, "rendered_height": 124}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.dw.com/en/south-carolina-officer-shooting-unarmed-black-man-a-throwback-to-the-19th-century/a-18370977", "unformatted_src": "/image/37083275_301.jpg", "src": "https://www.dw.com/image/37083275_301.jpg", "alt_text": "USA Charleston Attentat Dylann Roof", "rendered_width": 220, "rendered_height": 124}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.dw.com/en/south-carolina-officer-shooting-unarmed-black-man-a-throwback-to-the-19th-century/a-18370977", "unformatted_src": "/image/18528211_301.jpg", "src": "https://www.dw.com/image/18528211_301.jpg", "alt_text": "USA Schie\u00dferei in einer Kirche in South Carolina T\u00e4ter", "rendered_width": 220, "rendered_height": 124}, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.dw.com/en/south-carolina-officer-shooting-unarmed-black-man-a-throwback-to-the-19th-century/a-18370977", "unformatted_src": "/image/41525323_301.jpg", "src": "https://www.dw.com/image/41525323_301.jpg", "alt_text": "Facebook Offizielles Logo"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.dw.com/en/south-carolina-officer-shooting-unarmed-black-man-a-throwback-to-the-19th-century/a-18370977", "unformatted_src": "/image/41525319_301.jpg", "src": "https://www.dw.com/image/41525319_301.jpg", "alt_text": "Twitter Offizielles Logo"}, null]
South Carolina officer shooting unarmed black man a ′throwback to the 19th century′ | News | DW | 09.04.2015 South Carolina's administration on Wednesday fired police officer Michael Slager, accused with murdering an unarmed man by shooting him in the back.

The shooting, which happened on Saturday night, was recorded by a witness when it happened in North Charleston in South Carolina. The film showed Slager having a small scuffle with the victim before the unarmed man fled. Slager then used his gun to fire eight times on the victim, Walter Scott's back. The 33-year-old Slager was arrested on Tuesday after the video was made public. Protests in North Charleston

"These incidents have been happening…It just so happens, in this incident, you get to see it," South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn told DW, adding that the shock regarding this shooting was because people could see for themselves how the situation developed.

Walter Scott's case like other events in a series of deadly police encounters, in which black men were killed, stirred nationwide protests in the US and raised questions on police brutality. The killing is the 11th police-related shooting in the state.

"I think we will have to figure out what is causing it," argued Clyburn on the reason as to why shootings were on the rise. "There's a climate that's being created in this country that is a throwback to the 19th century… When you see state legislatures denying the right to vote…giving out licenses for people to go out and be vigilantes…It's creating a climate that allows people like rural police officers to go out and do what they feel like doing and think there will be no consequences to be faced."

Demand for scrutiny

Meanwhile, civil rights leaders in the US called for calm, after protestors gathered outside North Charleston's city hall and demanded that Walter Scott's case be seen in the context of other similar killings.

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said a State Law Enforcement Division was looking into the crime.

"This has been a horrible tragedy within our community," Summey said, adding that the state was acquiring 250 wearable cameras for police officers to ensure the police were accountable for their actions.

"We turned the investigation over to an independent agency that does not work for the mayor and does not work for the police chief," Summey told reporters.

However there were still questions about the three-minute-long video's authenticity, concerning whether the video was edited and how the film found its way to the media and the local authorities.

mg/rc (AP, Reuters, dpa)


Blog: Outrage over US shooting of Walter Scott

The shooting of Walter Scott by a white US police officer is stirring anger on social media. The killing mirrors recent outcries over racial profiling and police brutality and is reviving hashtags like #Blacklivesmatter. (08.04.2015)

US police officer faces murder charge after shooting black man

A video showing a white police officer shooting a black man in the United States has prompted prosecutors to bring murder charges against the officer. Eight shots were fired as the victim ran away. (08.04.2015)
 One killed after 'disgruntled employee ' takes restaurant staff hostage in Charleston, SC 24.08.2017

One person has been shot and killed after a "disgruntled employee" armed with a gun stormed a restaurant in downtown Charleston. According to the city's mayor, the gunman has been shot and is in critical condition. Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof sentenced to death 10.01.2017

Dylann Roof, the man found guilty of killing nine members of a black church in South Carolina, has been sentenced to death. Roof, who was defending himself in court, did not ask for his life to be spared. Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof won't work to spare his life, denies mental problems 28.12.2016

Charleston shooter Dylann Roof will represent himself and not call any witnesses in the penalty phase of his trial. Roof was convicted earlier this month for his attack on the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

