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| Walter Scott: silence and tears as parents visit site of shooting for first time | Walter Scott: silence and tears as parents visit site of shooting for first time |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Clutching hands in the intense heat, Judy and Walter Scott Sr walked slowly towards the place where their son was shot dead. | Clutching hands in the intense heat, Judy and Walter Scott Sr walked slowly towards the place where their son was shot dead. |
| Related: 'The home of racism': Walter Scott and church shootings lay bare Charleston's original sin | Related: 'The home of racism': Walter Scott and church shootings lay bare Charleston's original sin |
| It was the first time the grieving parents had visited the unremarkable fenced off pathway, behind an auto repair shop and next to a busy highway, where their son died three months ago. Cicadas buzzed and cameras clicked. Judy Scott’s sobs were, at times, audible over all else. | |
| Behind the chain-link fence was the spot where Walter Scott, 50, was shot from behind by North Charleston police officer Michael Slager on 4 April. | Behind the chain-link fence was the spot where Walter Scott, 50, was shot from behind by North Charleston police officer Michael Slager on 4 April. |
| The officer claimed Scott had grabbed his Taser. But eyewitness video emerged showing Scott was unarmed and running away from Slager when the officer opened fire. The incident commanded global headlines and Slager was charged with murder. | The officer claimed Scott had grabbed his Taser. But eyewitness video emerged showing Scott was unarmed and running away from Slager when the officer opened fire. The incident commanded global headlines and Slager was charged with murder. |
| On Thursday, however, as members of Scott’s family, including his 24-year-old daughter Samantha, congregated at the site, they were unable to pick out the precise spot where he fell. A shrine that once marked it – a small crucifix, flowers and pebbles – had been removed. | On Thursday, however, as members of Scott’s family, including his 24-year-old daughter Samantha, congregated at the site, they were unable to pick out the precise spot where he fell. A shrine that once marked it – a small crucifix, flowers and pebbles – had been removed. |
| “Why they did that, I have no idea,” Anthony Scott, Walter’s 52-year-old brother, said. | “Why they did that, I have no idea,” Anthony Scott, Walter’s 52-year-old brother, said. |
| “I don’t think it was right. I think this spot should remain that way and I don’t think nobody should mess with it.” | “I don’t think it was right. I think this spot should remain that way and I don’t think nobody should mess with it.” |
| Scott questioned whether the memorial had been removed by the city. A spokesman for the North Charleston city council said later it had not been their decision to remove it, and said the responsibility law with a private landowner. | Scott questioned whether the memorial had been removed by the city. A spokesman for the North Charleston city council said later it had not been their decision to remove it, and said the responsibility law with a private landowner. |
| “The worst thing you can do is forget about somebody, and we’re not going to let that happen in this situation,” the Scott family attorney, Chris Stewart, told reporters in discussing the shooting. | “The worst thing you can do is forget about somebody, and we’re not going to let that happen in this situation,” the Scott family attorney, Chris Stewart, told reporters in discussing the shooting. |
| “It’s a situation that should have been prevented. Officer Slager’s actions before this should have been better monitored. This never should have occurred.” | “It’s a situation that should have been prevented. Officer Slager’s actions before this should have been better monitored. This never should have occurred.” |
| After Scott’s death, it emerged, through documents obtained by the New York Times, that Slager had used his Taser 14 times during his five years as a North Charleston police officer, prompting suggestions of a routine overuse of force. | After Scott’s death, it emerged, through documents obtained by the New York Times, that Slager had used his Taser 14 times during his five years as a North Charleston police officer, prompting suggestions of a routine overuse of force. |
| “That’s where we’re going,” Stewart said. “Not just with officer Slager but the people who were responsible for him and that type of environment where you would feel comfortable enough to shoot a man in the back that poses no harm. You have to have learned that somewhere.” | |
| Slager awaits trial in an isolation unit at the Charleston County detention centre. The same unit holds 21-year-old Dylann Roof, who is accused of shooting dead nine black churchgoers at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church a few miles down the road. | Slager awaits trial in an isolation unit at the Charleston County detention centre. The same unit holds 21-year-old Dylann Roof, who is accused of shooting dead nine black churchgoers at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church a few miles down the road. |
| Related: Obama gives searing speech on race in eulogy for Charleston pastor | Related: Obama gives searing speech on race in eulogy for Charleston pastor |
| Anthony Scott passed condolences on to the grieving relatives of those killed in the massacre last month. | Anthony Scott passed condolences on to the grieving relatives of those killed in the massacre last month. |
| “The pain is the same,” he said. | “The pain is the same,” he said. |
| Stewart also compared Walter Scott’s death to those at Emanuel AME. | Stewart also compared Walter Scott’s death to those at Emanuel AME. |
| “It [Scott’s life] was just taken carelessly” he said, “just like the shooter at the church [did]. So coming out here today, with everything that was going on lately, was important for the family.” | “It [Scott’s life] was just taken carelessly” he said, “just like the shooter at the church [did]. So coming out here today, with everything that was going on lately, was important for the family.” |
| Anthony Scott also used the day to welcome the news that the Confederate battle flag that has flown over the South Carolina statehouse grounds in Columbus was due to be removed on Friday. | Anthony Scott also used the day to welcome the news that the Confederate battle flag that has flown over the South Carolina statehouse grounds in Columbus was due to be removed on Friday. |
| “On behalf of the family I just want to say that we’re holding on and we’re going to remain strong and continue to believe in God,” he said. | “On behalf of the family I just want to say that we’re holding on and we’re going to remain strong and continue to believe in God,” he said. |
| “God is going to bring us through and hopefully the family is going to receive justice at the end of the day, because that’s exactly what we want. It’s really a sad thing be here today, but we’re going to be OK.” | “God is going to bring us through and hopefully the family is going to receive justice at the end of the day, because that’s exactly what we want. It’s really a sad thing be here today, but we’re going to be OK.” |
| Judy and Walter Scott Sr did not speak at all. Holding hands, they continued to gaze through the fence. | Judy and Walter Scott Sr did not speak at all. Holding hands, they continued to gaze through the fence. |
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