Walter Scott, a 50‑year‑old Black man killed during a 2015 traffic stop in North Charleston, South Carolina, was remembered 11 years later at a community gathering in Park Circle, where family and leaders reflected on his death and the continuing push for police accountability and reform. [web]
What happened in 2015
- Scott was pulled over for a broken brake light by then‑North Charleston police officer Michael Slager, fled from the car, and was shot five times in the back and killed; the shooting was captured on bystander video, which played a major role in the case gaining national attention. [web]
- The footage showed Slager shooting Scott in the back as he ran, and later tossing a Taser near Scott’s body, leading to public outrage over the use of force and the handling of the incident. [web]
Memorial and ongoing impact
- On the 11‑year anniversary, community leaders, elected officials, and Scott’s family convened in Park Circle to honor his life and underscore how the case still influences calls for change in policing and criminal‑justice reform. [web]
- State Rep. Justin Bamberg called the 2015 video “callous” and compared the treatment of Scott to hunting a deer, while stressing that the ripple effects of such failures in law enforcement do not vanish even more than a decade later. [web]
Police department changes and message from the family
- North Charleston Police Chief Ron Camacho said the department now includes Scott’s family in training, with Scott’s brother, Anthony Scott, speaking to rookie officers about the lasting impact of misconduct on families. [web]
- Walter Scott’s daughter, Samantha Scott, said her father is “not forgotten” and emphasized that the community remains united in wanting change, while the event’s overall message was that important progress has been made but more work is still needed.
