The debate over racially motivated cop encounters started gaining more attention last year after Ferguson, Missouri erupted in riots after 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot dead.
The shooting of Walter Scott in South Carolina last week is another addition to the list of incidents in the United States where white cops have fatally shot black men. The debate over racially motivated cop encounters started gaining more attention last year after Ferguson, Missouri erupted in riots after 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot dead.
Here is a list of five cop encounters in the United States that were termed to be racially motivated and caused an uproar in the recent past.
Michael Brown - Police officer Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown six times on August 9, 2014. Brown had encountered Wilson on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri and the two got engaged in a tussle. According to witnesses, Michael Brown had his hands in the air when Wilson shot him. This led to the protesters using the same gesture in the protests that followed the incident. The protests also gave birth to #blacklivesmatter. A grand jury was appointed, but they did not find enough evidence to indict Darren Wilson.
Also Read: As it all happened: Michael Brown shooting incident, investigation and Ferguson protests
Eric Garner - On July 17, Eric Garner, 43 was put in a chokehold when he refused to be cuffed as NYPD officers were trying to arrest him for peddling loose cigarettes. The incident was shot by witnesses and Garner can be heard saying, 'I can't breathe.' Staton Island grand jury were to decide on the officers fate. The case is still under investigation.
Also read: New York chokehold death brings attack on 'broken windows' doctrine
Tamir Rice - A 12-year-old young boy from Cleveland was shot dead by police officers on November 22, 2014, after brandishing a gun which later turned out to be a toy pellet gun. The officers involved are on administrative leave and investigations are ongoing to present evidence to a grand jury whether to indict the officers.
Charley Leundeu Keunang - Keunang, a homeless man was fatally shot by LAPD officers on March 1, 2015. Police were called to the scene over a reported robbery and were trying to detain the suspect. Keunang started flailing as officers were trying to subdue him. As he tried to reach for the holster of one of the officers, LAPD shot the man.
Walter Scott - In North Charleston, South Carolina, unarmed Walter Scott was shot dead by police officer Michael Slager, who spotted Scott's broken brake light. The video footage of the incident shows a brief scuffle between the pair. As Scott tried to run away from the officer, Slager shot him eight times in the back. In an uncommon outcome in such cases so far, Michael Slager was arrested on Tuesday for the murder of Walter Scott and also dismissed from service.
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