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Killing of Walter Scott

SOLVED2015North Charleston, South Carolina3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On the morning of April 4, 2015, North Charleston Police Department officer Michael Slager stopped Walter Scott, a 50-year-old Black man, for a non-functioning third brake light on his 1991 Mercedes in a parking lot on Remount Road. Scott exited his vehicle and fled on foot, and Slager pursued him. The two became involved in a physical altercation near a pawn shop lot on Rivers Avenue, during which Slager deployed his Taser. Scott continued to flee, and Slager fired his handgun eight times from behind, striking Scott five times, including three times in the back. A forensic pathologist later testified the fatal wound struck Scott's lungs and heart. Immediately after the shooting, Slager radioed that Scott had "grabbed my Taser," and his initial report stated he felt threatened because Scott had taken the weapon.

An eyewitness, Feidin Santana, recorded video of the shooting on his phone. Santana stated he initially withheld the video out of fear but later shared it after seeing that the police account differed from what he witnessed. The footage, which showed Slager shooting Scott while Scott was fleeing and unarmed, was eventually shared with Scott's family and the media. The video contradicted Slager's official report and led to his arrest on murder charges on April 7, 2015. The video also showed Slager handcuffing Scott after the shooting and appearing to place an object, possibly the dropped Taser, near Scott's body; footage did not show CPR being performed despite police reports stating it had occurred.

The case drew separate investigations by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina, and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. A Charleston County coroner ruled the death a homicide. In June 2015, a South Carolina grand jury indicted Slager for murder. He was released on bond in January 2016 after nearly nine months in custody. His state trial began in October 2016 and ended in a mistrial in December 2016 after the jury deadlocked, with 11 of 12 jurors favoring conviction.

In May 2016, Slager was separately indicted on federal charges, including violating Scott's civil rights and obstruction of justice. In May 2017, he pleaded guilty to a federal charge of deprivation of rights under color of law; in exchange, the state murder charge and additional federal charges were dropped. In December 2017, a federal judge sentenced Slager to 20 years in prison, finding that the underlying conduct constituted second-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Slager began serving his sentence at FCI Englewood in Colorado in 2018; a later bid to reduce his sentence was denied.

The City of North Charleston settled a civil suit with Scott's family for $6.5 million in October 2015. The case intensified national debate over police use of force and race, and contributed to South Carolina legislation funding police body cameras.

Key facts

Victims
Walter Lamar Scott
Date
2015
Location
North Charleston, South Carolina
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2013-01-16

    A court hearing over missed child support payments resulted in an arrest warrant being issued for Walter Scott.

  2. 2015-04-04

    Michael Slager stopped Walter Scott for a non-functioning brake light in North Charleston, South Carolina; Scott fled on foot and was fatally shot by Slager, who fired eight rounds, striking Scott five times.

  3. 2015-04-07

    Following the surfacing of bystander video, Slager was arrested and charged with murder.

  4. 2015-04-08

    North Charleston Police Department fired Slager.

  5. 2015-04-11

    Walter Scott's funeral was held at W.O.R.D. Ministries Christian Center in Summerville, South Carolina.

  6. 2015-06-08

    A South Carolina grand jury indicted Slager on a charge of murder.

  7. 2015-10

    The City of North Charleston agreed to a $6.5 million civil settlement with Scott's family.

  8. 2016-01-04

    Slager was released on $500,000 bond after nearly nine months in custody.

  9. 2016-03

    NCPD Assistant Chief Reggie Burgess offered a public apology for the killing.

  10. 2016-05-11

    Slager was indicted on federal charges including violation of Scott's civil rights and obstruction of justice.

  11. 2016-10-31

    Slager's state murder trial began.

  12. 2016-12-05

    Judge Clifton Newman declared a mistrial after the jury deadlocked, with 11 of 12 jurors favoring conviction.

  13. 2017-05-02

    Slager pleaded guilty to a federal charge of deprivation of rights under color of law; state murder charges were dropped as part of the agreement.

  14. 2017-12-07

    U.S. District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Slager to 20 years in prison.

  15. 2018-02

    Slager began serving his sentence at FCI Englewood in Colorado.

  16. 2019-01-06

    An appeal for reduction of Slager's sentence was denied.

  17. 2021-04-19

    A court upheld Slager's sentence after he sought a reduction, arguing his defense had been incompetent.

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People

  • Walter Lamar Scott

    VICTIM

    50-year-old forklift operator fatally shot by a North Charleston police officer during a traffic stop.

  • Michael Thomas Slager

    CONVICTED

    Former North Charleston police officer; pleaded guilty in May 2017 to a federal charge of deprivation of rights under color of law and was sentenced to 20 years in prison; original state murder charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

North Charleston, South Carolina

32.8993, -80.0142

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On April 4, 2015, North Charleston, South Carolina police officer Michael Slager fatally shot Walter Scott, a 50-year-old Black man, in the back as Scott fled following a traffic stop. Bystander video contradicted Slager's official report, leading to murder charges; after a mistrial, Slager pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Where did the killing happen?
North Charleston, South Carolina.
Who was convicted?
Michael Thomas Slager (Former North Charleston police officer; pleaded guilty in May 2017 to a federal charge of deprivation of rights under color of law and was sentenced to 20 years in prison; original state murder charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in South Carolina

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICKilling of Walter ScottWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSSouth Carolina Officer Faces Federal Charges in Fatal ShootingThe New York Times · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSSouth Carolina Cop Shoots Black Man: A TimelineCNN · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 10, 2026