One year later: Trial date still not scheduled for white officer who shot unarmed black motorist
On September 4, 2014, a white South Carolina state trooper pulled over a black man for an alleged seat belt violation. What happened next has left many asking the same question: Why?
On September 4, 2014, a white South Carolina state trooper pulled over a black man for an alleged seat belt violation.
What happened next has left many asking the same question: Why?
Video from the traffic stop shows the trooper, Sean Groubert, shooting unarmed Levar Jones multiple times.
Groubert had asked Jones to see his license. Jones, who had already exited his vehicle because he was unaware he was being stopped, turned around and reached back into his car to retrieve it.
When Jones reached back into his car for his license, Groubert yelled for him to “Get out of the car.” When Jones turned around, Groubert fired multiple shots. Then Jones is shown on video backpedaling with his hands fully raised in the air.
Eventually, Jones falls to the ground. He survived the ordeal with only injuries to his hip.
A few weeks later, Groubert was out of a job – fired by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety for failure to follow protocol. He was later arrested and charged with “assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.”
Nearly one year to the day, a trial date has yet to be scheduled.
Groubert faces 20 years in prison if convicted, according to The Morning News. His lawyer told The State the charges are “still pending,” and declined to comment further.
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