Police shooting video "deeply troubling," says former FBI official
Ron Hosko is the former head of the FBI's criminal investigative division. He now runs a legal defense fund for police officers. He's watched the video of Walter Scott being fatally shot by Michael Slager from beginning to end and says he's never seen anything like it.
"Arguably what he should be doing, before pulling out his gun is chasing him, right? Foot pursuit. Happens every day," Hosko said. "If he's unarmed, and presumably he is from the background, chase him. Cops chase every day. Call for backup. Have others come help chase."
But did Scott pose a threat based on what is on the video?
"In this piece of video, I don't see the threat," Hosko continued. "I see a man trying to flee the scene, running away. And if that's the case, to shoot this victim in the back multiple times while he is merely trying to flee from a non-violent crime, is deeply troubling and I think is likely to result in the conviction of the police officer."
But does the shooting qualify as murder?
"I don't want to sit as judge or jury," he said. "But given this set of circumstances, I think a strong case could be made that it is murder."
Hosko is also disturbed by something else on the tape. After the shooting, it appears that Slager drops an object next to Walter Scott's body. Slager reported that Scott took his taser.
"When you have a serious or fatal shooting incident, tampering with the evidence, moving a potential piece of evidence, like a Taser from place A to place B, that is a serious event. Because it raises questions, legitimate questions, about the integrity of the case," he said.
When other officers arrive on the scene, Hosko says they also appeared to shirk their duty.
"Make sure there are no additional weapons that the person would have access to to continue to pose a threat if one existed, but certainly take steps to preserve a life. It did not appear to be going on there at all.
Hosko said he typically gives law enforcement the benefit of the doubt. He said he does not believe this case defines police in America. He also had the opportunity to review the newly released dash cam video showing the initial traffic stop, from which Scott fled. Hosko said that video doesn't change his opinion of the incident.