A South Carolina grand jury has charged Michael Slager with the shooting death of Walter Scott on April 4.
If convicted, the 33-year-old officer could face life imprisonment for the murder, according to CNN. Though the trial’s start date has not yet been announced, the process for prospective jurors on the case will soon be underway. Chris Stewart, Scott’s family attorney, added that the indictment was just the first step into the extensive case.
“Today was just an example that if you keep the faith, even in the darkest times, you’ll see the light,” Stewart said.
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Scott was killed after eight rounds were fired into his back from Slager during an encounter resulting from a traffic stop. Video surfaced onto the Web of the encounter, showing Scott being shot while running away. Slager alleged that Scott did not follow his commands. However, he never clarified why he used deadly force on an unarmed, 50-year-old Scott.
The murder garnered heavy public scrutiny, sparking more flames in the already hot topics of police brutality and race. It also fell on the heels of other incidents where unarmed black men have been killed at the hands of white officers, including Freddie Gray, Eric Garner, and Michael Brown.
A civil lawsuit against Slager will also be filed within the next few months by Scott’s family. – Diamond Hillyer