The agreement is the third settlement of approximately $6 million reached in the past year with families of black men killed by police.
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North Charleston City Council approved the settlement by a 10-0 vote, with members of Walter Scott’s family present.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Mr Scott’s family called for peace and a few have credited the family’s action, along with the officer’s speedy arrest, with staving off the protests and violence that have erupted in other cities where unarmed black men have died during encounters with police.
Walter Scott was shot in the back five times as he tried to run away from city police officer Michael Slager on April 4 after being pulled over, reportedly for a broken brake light. “I know they are glad to have this part behind them so their healing process can continue”, said North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey in a statement quoted by the Washington Post. State Police Trooper Evan Harrell said the bodies were found after Thursday’s explosion. He remains held without bond on a charge of murder.
Scott also praised the local government for the settlement.
Anthony Scott says, “You can’t put a value on someone’s life, and it can’t bring my brother back, but it can help to take care of his children”. “We have a video tape that quite frankly might be the most played video tape in the history of modern media”, he said.
Attorney Chris Stewart, who represents the Scott family, said a number of issues had to be considered in reaching the $6.5 million figure.
City attorney Brady Hair tells the Post and Courier the settlement protects current and former city employees from being sued. There were no aggravating circumstances such as robbery or kidnapping, so the death penalty does not apply in the case, the prosecutor has said. “Even though I think we handled it completely appropriately, it was still going to cost us”.
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“When you keep faith and respect one another and you don’t go to your corner based on whether you are black or white or rich or poor, things can work out”, he said.
