Police officer charged with murder in South Carolina after shooting unarmed man in the back. What do you think of cases like this?

From the video, the poor guy doesn't look like he is imposing ANY threat to the officer --or anyone else for that matter. What the video doesn't show is what happened leading up to this. Regardless, the suspect was attempting to disengage and the officer busts a few caps. In this case, there is NO way I could support/justify the use of deadly force. Additionally, the "supporting" reports filed by his fellow officers (as reported by most of the "biggies") seem to be fraudulently written as well. I smell a lot more than one skunk in the woodpile here. Glad I won't draw jury duty on this one: IMO, the video evidence supports the ensuing murder charges.

To all of you men (and women) who wear a badge and walk that thin blue line, I support you. You've got a downright crappy job --sorting out the criminals from those who just wanna-be-thugs. I'll never understand the personality who can yield a weapon in one arm while giving a hug with the other. Like our fellow service-members, you're a special breed.

Carry On!

I think you are dealing with several issues here that are converging to create a perfect storm of police brutality. First of all you have a segment of the force that only wanted a badge because they were nerds and outcast in school and figured if I get a badge the “cool kids” will have to respect me. The problem with that is even with a badge you are still a coward and instead of “manning up” and taking a criminal to the ground by force you reach for your pistol because just like in 5th grade you are still a scared little kid ready to wet his pants. Secondly you have some police officers that are truly tough guys that have seen it all and are willing to do it all. The problem with that is you end up like me with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You may not shoot the criminal but if he pisses you off you may just beat him to death with your bare hands. If not for counseling I know without a doubt that many cut throat political types I ran into during my career would have been introduced to the business end of a back fist. Luckily because of my deep training in psychology I knew when I was about to explode and I went to get some counseling. I am going to take a wild guess that at least 80 percent of the police force suffers from some form of PTSD and oh by the way many officers were once soldiers who served in combat. Thirdly many young black males do not realize that many of the policemen that stop them are either suffering from PTSD or terrified. If they knew that they should act accordingly by following instructions and not trying to run. They should know that the cop is afraid to engage you physically so you can expect to get shot. Two of the most dangerous people you can cross in society are a coward and a person with untreated PTSD. I have no doubt that had my PTSD gone untreated there would be no less than 15 people, no longer with us. Young black man if you are reading this, this is what is walking up to your car window asking you for license and registration. Those are the quote unquote “good police officers” Now add to that a racist coward or a racist officer with PTSD and you might as well start making funeral arrangements. I do not for one minute think all police are bad but you will not convince me for one second that you can deal with killers, rapist, pedophiles and organized criminals without developing PTSD. As far as I am concerned I do not care if you kill me because you are a coward, have untreated PTSD or are a racist. Either way I won’t be celebrating Christmas this year. The solution is multipronged. First the police department needs to have an ongoing program to treat PTSD among its ranks. Secondly the police need to weed cowards out. Thirdly young black males need to recognize and understand that when you are encountering a law officer your life is in the balance for any one; or several reasons. By the way I am from South Carolina and have dealt with cops that fit all the qualities described above. I knew from the jump my life was in danger but I never understood why until I studied psychology and organizational behavior.

If the police can't police themselves ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/04/10/the-police-cant-police-themselves-and-now-the-public-is-too-scared-to-cooperate-with-them/?tid=HP_posteverything

I don't know the entire story or his motivation to shoot but it was clearly a bad decision.

Clearly a murder by the officer. It's unfortunate cause there are plenty of good cops out there but the media eats this stuff up and fans the flame making it seem like this occurs every time someone is stopped by the police which is just not true.

No one is above the law. A few bad apples on the Police Force may think so, but their day of reckoning will come. In all walks of life, you have those who were probably bullies as youngsters, and have continued on this negative path through adult life. Let's face it. Thugs who don't want change, will continue to be as such. So sad that these malevolent individuals feel entitled. Blessings.

This is definitely a bad result for all involved, did the guy deserve to be shot, maybe, maybe not? I suppose that depends on if he was actually fighting or attempting to resist arrest to an extreme that the officer felt threatened. Although shooting people in the back is not the social norm or considered acceptable in most circumstances it is however authorized in instances where the public is endanger or to save life. As for this unarmed arguement, well let me put this into terms that everyone should understand, if you are a 120lb female police officer trying to wrestle a 300lb coked up criminal well he poses a signifigant threat to her life just by size and strenth and not that thats justification for this particular incident, Im a 215lb male and would choose not to engage in a physical altercation with anyone that could potentially cause me harm so your chances of being engaged alternately are increased right away. As I said this is a bad thing for all invovled, but to demonize the entire Law Enforcement community is really a bad idea. There is other potential problems with media and cameras and everyone thinking just because they have a camera on they are able to do whatever they want because they have a video of it. If you want to take video of things I have no problem with that, however that video should be used both ways, and if it should show that the person taking said video is breaking laws they should be held accountable as well. I for one am tired of the unarmed arguement- and I am tired of the percieved race arguements and cries for reform because lots of people are shot and you only here about certain ones all the time for months and months, move on people because everyone is armed and has potential for violence.

If anyone doubts that this was murder, please look for the longer version of this specific video and the additional videos out there. The NY Times has it, plus 2 other videos. Unfortunately the officers mic does not record what happens after the officer catches up with the victim.

This encounter originated as a traffic stop for a bad 3rd brake light. The victim was a deadbeat dad with a warrant for failure to pay child support and eventually fled the traffic stop on foot. The officer radioed for backup and you can hear sirens in the background of the video. The officer caught up to the victim in the park. Witnesses said the victim ran from the officer (again) in the park to avoid being Tasered by the officer in retaliation for making the officer chase him. It is unclear is the victim tried to hit the Taser out of the officer's hand before running away, but the officer pulls his weapon and fires into the victim's back as he ran away.

Immediately after shooting the officer radios in (on this video) that the victim took his Taser to create evidence to justify the shooting. After this video cuts off the officer jogs back to his Taser. A second officer arrives and the shooting officer drops the Taser next to the victim to create a crime scene that would justify the shooting. When the supervisor arrived on scene the shooting officer claimed the victim took the Taser and tried to use the Taser on the officer.

Sadly, from looking at what has been released this was probably a bad shoot.......of course the best way to not get by shoot by a police office is to not break the law or if you get pulled over follow directions and not run away.....but again this at least superficially to be a bad shoot.

This is another case of the cops thinking they're above the law and having a distinct lack of training. "Oh no, my suspect is running away. I'd better endanger the entire community and fire 8 bullets at him, because I'm too lazy to chase after him and take him down."