The witness who filmed the police shooting of an unarmed black man in North Charleston, S.C., plans to speak publicly about what he saw.
The Guardian reported Wednesday that the bystander has gotten legal representation and is assisting a state inquiry into the death of Walter Scott, 50.
“That person will speak at some point,” said L. Chris Stewart, a lawyer for Scott’s family.
{mosads}“We have to really recognize the strength and fortitude and fearlessness that it took to come forward when you know you just filmed a police officer murder somebody,” Stewart added. “That’s the kind of person that needs to be duplicated.”
Stewart said the witness contacted Scott’s family after recording the shooting.
Police officer Michael Slager, 33, has been charged with murder, accused of firing eight fatal rounds at Scott on Saturday.
Slager allegedly stopped Scott over a broken taillight on his car Saturday evening. The two men then fought, with police reports claiming Slager used a stun gun on Scott during the struggle.
Video of the incident shows a white police officer firing multiple times as a black man flees in the opposite direction. The running individual collapses after several of the shots.
Keith Summey, the mayor of North Charleston, S.C., on Wednesday said additional video of the shooting exists.
The unreleased footage is being held by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is investigating the incident.