The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
September 26, 2014

South Carolina Trooper Fired for Shooting Black Man Who Obeyed Command to Retrieve License 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 
In South Carolina, a state trooper has been fired and arrested after
shooting an African-American man four times as he reached for his
driver's license during a stop for an alleged seatbelt violation at a
gas station. Footage from a police dashboard camera shows Levar Edward
Jones reaching for his license after Trooper Sean Groubert asked to see
it. As Jones reaches into the truck, then turns back around, Groubert
shoots him four times. Jones, who has disappeared from the frame, asks
why he was shot.

Levar Edward Jones: "Why did you shoot me?"

Sean Groubert: "Well, you dove head first back into your car, then you
jumped back out. I'm telling you to get out of your car."

Levar Edward Jones: "I'm sorry, I didn't hear two words, sir."

The trooper, a former lance corporal, has been charged with aggravated
assault and could face up to 20 years in prison.

 

.