King County sheriff sees ‘no reason’ why South Carolina man was shot

Based on what King County Sheriff John Urquhart has seen, the shooting of a South Carolina man is not justifiable.

“I see no reason why he should have been shot,” Urquhart told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson.

Walter Scott was shot in the back several times April 4 by South Carolina police officer Michael Slager. The shooting was caught on video by a man walking to work.

Video from the Slager’s dash cam was released Thursday.

Related: Police cruiser video shows moments before fatal shooting

Slager initially claimed he fired in self-defense after the suspect he had pulled over for a broken brake light grabbed his Taser. The video shows a different scenario, where Scott moves away from the officer, an object that appears to be a stun gun falls to the ground, and he runs away. Slager then pulls out his Glock pistol and fires eight times at the back of the 50-year-old man, until he crumples to the ground about 30 feet away.

Even if Scott had taken the officer’s Taser, it doesn’t matter, because Scott was running away when he was shot, Urquhart said. The officer was not in danger.

“Thank God for video cameras,” Urquhart told Dori. “Thank God for cellphone cameras. If it weren’t for this video, this guy would not be in jail today and would have his job. And, people would still be trying to figure out what went on.”

Slager now faces a murder charge. Urquhart believes it will stand.

Though King County deputies do not have body cams, Urquhart told Dori he supports the idea and would like to see the department get them.

“A good cop has nothing to fear from someone’s cellphone or a body cam,” he said.