North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey announced that a settlement of $6.5 million has been reached with the Scott family. A bystander recorded Scott being shot repeatedly in the back as he tried to run from Officer Slager.
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The settlement may be an echo of the $5.9 million settlement between NYC and Eric Garner’s family and the .4 million agreement between Baltimore city and the family of Freddie Gray. “People mention New York”, North Charleston City Attorney Brady Hair said, noting places where violence broke out when blacks died after encounters with police officers. “But even more importantly, the city sent a message loud and clear that this kind of reckless behavior exhibited by members of law enforcement will not and shall not be tolerated”.
A portion of the Walter Scott $6.5 million settlement will reportedly be given to his children and a few of the money will be donated to help with the ongoing South Carolina flood relief effort.
Slager was indicted for murder in June and stripped of his badge. “I know they are glad to have this part behind them so their healing process can continue”, the statement read.
MICHAEL BROWN: A federal wrongful-death lawsuit brought by Brown’s parents over his fatal shooting by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer won’t go to trial for at least another year.
Meanwhile, the North Charleston cop who shot and killed him, Michael Slager, remains in jail on murder charges. Slager shot Scott eight times as he ran away in an open field.
Slowly, and perhaps inconsistently, the wide latitude that society has long given police officers who say their lives are in danger is beginning to change. Councilman Ron Brinson added, “Having looked at all that’s before us, I think that this is the right thing to do morally. Where there is foul play, we must seek after equity”, said lawyer Justin Bamberg.
“From Day One, we have said, ‘When you’re wrong, you’re wrong, ‘ and there was no doubt in our mind that it was going to cost us”, Summey said.
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Slager faces 30 years to life in prison without parole if he is convicted.
