South Carolina Police Officer Gets 20 Years in Prison For Killing Unarmed Black Man

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The SC police officer that shot and killed an unarmed African American man in North Charleston has just been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Michael Slager was found guilty of second-degree murder on Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge David Norton after a 4-day hearing surrounding the fatal shooting of Walter Scott. Scott was shot five times in the back as he was running away from the officer during a traffic stop on April 4, 2015.

“I wish I could go back in time to change the event, but I can’t,” Slager said to the court before he was sentenced. “It’s a very tragic situation and I’m sorry for it.”

After the video footage of the incident was released, it sparked national outrage. It was one of the first major shootings that helped to fuel the Black Lives Matter movement and the national discussion about reforming police training.

The ex-officer now has the right to appeal the sentence.

 

 

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