SC body camera law spurred by Ferguson, state’s own shooting

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina lawmakers began exploring the possible use of body cameras after the shooting of an unarmed black man in Ferguson, Missouri, last year.

But the issue didn’t pick up steam until after South Carolina had its own Ferguson-esque moment, when an unarmed black man was shot to death in April by a white North Charleston officer at a traffic stop.

A bystander recorded the shooting of 50-year-old Walter Scott, fueling the debate about how white officers treat black people across the nation.

Former Officer Michael Slager is awaiting trial on murder charges. Two months later, Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law a bill that created a policy for which officers will wear the cameras, when they should and should not be recording and how videos are stored.