South Carolina city to pay $6.5M settlement to family of man fatally shot by cop
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South Carolina city to pay $6.5M settlement to family of man fatally shot by cop
City officials in South Carolina approved a settlement on Thursday with the family of an unarmed black man fatally shot by a white police officer who was captured on a cellphone video firing at the man’s back as he ran away. The North Charleston City Council approved the $6.5 million settlement in a 10-0 vote, and members of Walter Scott’s family were present when it was announced. Scott, 50, was shot April 4 by North Charleston officer Michael Slager while trying to run from a traffic stop.
It could have been a trillion dollars. It would never bring my son back. But I thank them for what they did.
Judy Scott, Walter Scott’s mother
Slager was indicted on a murder charge in June and a judge refused to set bond last month, saying his release would “constitute an unreasonable danger to the community." North Charleston, S.C., did not erupt in violence — as other cities in similar circumstances did — after Slager shot Scott. Attorneys for both the city and the family say that is because of the quick actions both sides took to preserve the peace and to come to an agreement. Anthony Scott, Walter Scott’s brother, said the family plans to donate some of the money from the settlement to disaster relief for victims of the recent floods in South Carolina.
