On April 4, 2015, Walter Scott, a 50-year-old black man, was fatally shot by Michael Slager, a local police officer in North Charleston, South Carolina, United States.

In a May 2017 plea agreement, Slager pleaded guilty to federal charges of civil rights violations, and he was returned to jail pending sentencing.

[5] In December 2017, Slager was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the judge determining the underlying offense was second-degree murder.

[6] At 9:30 a.m., April 4, 2015, in the parking lot of an auto parts store at 1945 Remount Road,[19] Slager stopped Scott for a non-functioning third brake light.

[26] During Slager's state trial, forensic pathologist Lee Marie Tormos testified that the fatal wound was caused by a bullet that entered Scott's back and struck his lungs and heart.

[28] A passenger in Scott's car, reported to be a male co-worker and friend, was later placed in the back of a police vehicle and briefly detained.

[30] At first Santana did not share the video out of fear of retribution, but he became angered when the police report differed from his view of the events.

[42][43] Slager's original lawyer, David Aylor, withdrew as counsel within hours of the release of the video; he did not publicly give a reason for his withdrawal, citing attorney–client privilege.

[44][45][46] On April 8, the North Charleston city manager announced that the NCPD had fired Slager but would continue to pay for his health insurance because his wife was pregnant.

[47] The town's mayor, Keith Summey, said they had ordered an additional 150 body cameras, enough that one could be worn by every police officer.

[52] A bill in the South Carolina state house, designed to equip more police officers with body cameras, was renamed for Scott.

[34][58] An autopsy was performed by the Charleston County coroner on April 4, 2015, which showed that Scott had been shot in the back multiple times.

[63][64][65] On December 5, Judge Clifton Newman declared a mistrial after the jury became deadlocked with 11 of the 12 jurors favoring a conviction.

[68] On May 11, 2016, Slager was indicted on federal charges of violating Scott's civil rights and unlawfully using a weapon during the commission of a crime.

In addition, he was charged with obstruction of justice as a result of his statement to state investigators that Scott was moving toward him with the Taser when he shot him.

[70] On May 2, 2017, as part of a plea agreement, Slager pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law (18 USC § 242).

[73] Although defense attorneys had argued for voluntary manslaughter, the judge agreed with prosecutors that the "appropriate underlying offense" was second-degree murder.

[6] Because there is no parole in the federal justice system, Slager will likely remain in prison for about 18 years after credit for time served in jail.

Senator Tim Scott (no relation) of South Carolina to require the reporting of police shootings by any state receiving federal funding for law enforcement.