Disturbing Video Of South Caroline Police Shooting A Black Man Surfaces

A white South Carolina police officer has been charged with murder for shooting an apparently unarmed black man 5 times as he ran away -- and video has just surfaced of the horrific incident.

North Charleston Police Officer Michael T. Slager, 33, can be seen shooting 50-year-old Walter Scott after a confrontation on Saturday, according to The Post and Courier. Slager chases Scott and shoots at him eight times in the video recorded by a passerby and obtained by The New York Times.

Scott died there, though it wasn't clear if he died immediately.

The graphic video raises questions about Slager's original assertion that he used his gun because he felt endangered.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said on Twitter that he had watched the video and that "the senseless shooting and taking of #WalterScott's life was absolutely unnecessary and avoidable."

Credit: Nytimes/Postandcourier

After watching the video, the senseless shooting and taking of #WalterScott's life was absolutely unnecessary and avoidable. (1/2)
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) April 8, 2015