South Carolina Officer Charged With Murder After Shooting Man In Back [GRAPHIC VIDEO]

A North Charleston, South Carolina police officer has been arrested and is now being charged with murder after shooting a man in the back as he ran away.

Officer Mark Slager stopped 50-year-old Walter Scott on Saturday (4/4) for a busted taillight, and realized the man had a warrant for failing to pay child support. Scott fled from the traffic stop as Slager gave chase, shooting his stun gun.

Slager initially claimed that he struggled with Scott as he tried to take his taser, which made him feel "threatened" enough to shoot him.

Video then surfaced of the shooting—filmed by a bystander who wishes to stay anonymous—showing a different account than what Slager said. The very graphic video shows Slager firing eight shots at Scott, who is running away from him, before he falls on the ground.

Slager then approaches Scott's collapsed body, demanding that he puts his hands behind his back. After handcuffing Scott, Slager goes back to the location of their initial struggle and picks up an item off of the ground.

As other officers begin to show up, Slager drops what appears to be the taser next to Scott's body.

Today (4/6) Police Chief Eddie Driggers confirmed that Slager had been arrested and charged with murder. North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey announced the charges against Slager, calling his actions a "bad decision,"

When you make a bad decision, don’t care if you’re behind the shield or a citizen on the street, you have to live with that decision.

The shooting is still under investigation.

WARNING: Video is very graphic.

[via Complex]