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By Rickey Hampton, Editor and Founder of The African-American Athlete
Former North Charleston, South Carolina, police officer Michael Slager may not feel like it today, but he is a lucky man, nonetheless.
Slager is lucky because United States District Judge David Norton ruled that he committed second-degree murder, and obstruction of justice, for shooting down Walter Scott, 50, on April, 4, 2015. But when you look at that video of Slager shooting Scott down as if he were an animal, he is lucky he didn’t get life.
The incident occurred during a traffic stop. Scott made an unwise decision to run, but not a decision that should have cost him his life.
However, that is precisely what happened when Slager shot him down from behind. Slager then planted his weapon by Scott, and said the two men were in a struggle, and that he had to shoot him to protect himself.
What Scott didn’t realize is the entire incident was caught on a cell phone by a passerby. And there is very little doubt had it not been for that cell phone video, Slager would likely be patrolling the streets of North Charleston today.
And to think, a 2016 state trial against Slager ended in a mistrial.
Someone on that jury actually believed Slager’s explanation that he was in fear of his life, even with the video showing that obviously wasn’t the case. Of course, what that person (or persons) believed is that a white cop should never go to jail for shooting a black man.
Yeah, Michael Slager might not realize how lucky he is as he starts his prison sentence. However, he is far more fortunate than Walter Scott was on that April day in 2015.
