Former Trooper Pleads Guilty to Shooting Unarmed Man

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — The former South Carolina Highway Patrolman who is accused of shooting an unarmed man in 2014 has pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Authorities released the shocking video of now former South Carolina Highway Patrolman  Sean Groubert shooting Levar Jones just seconds after he got out of his truck at a Columbia gas station on September 4, 2014.

Sean Groupert

Groubert, 32, says he was pulling Jones over for a seat-belt violation. The video shows the shooting happened as Jones reached back into his truck to get his license. His wallet can be seen flying out of his hands as Groubert fired multiple rounds. Jones reached a settlement with the state of South Carolina in 2015 in exchange to not sue the Department of Public Safety.

“I believe I responded as trained” – part of stmt. given by Groubert after incident — Jennifer Ready (@JenniferWOLOTV) March 14, 2016

Groubert faces up to 20 years in prison. The judge will sentence Groubert at a later date.