Officer Michael Slager’s Mother Speaks Out, Can’t Bring Herself to Watch Video

Officer Michael Slager has been charged with murder for shooting and killing Walter Scott as he was running away, and now Slager’s mother is speaking out about that tragic incident.

The video shows Slager shooting Scott, and then, moments later, handcuffing him and purportedly dropping a Taser near him. Before the video came out, police had said Scott tussled with Slager and grabbed the gun. After the video came out, Slager’s attorney withdrew immediately and Slager was fired, arrested, and charged with murder.

But when asked today if she’s seen the video, Slager’s mother Karen Sharpe told ABC News she has not:

“I’ve purposely not watched it. I’ve purposely not tried to hear people’s comments about it. I don’t––I just, I can’t watch it, I can’t read the papers, I just can’t. Maybe to some people it’s ‘Well, you’re being in denial,’ but I’m sorry, I just can’t. I just––I know how Michael is.”

She was tearful throughout as she talked about how her family and Scott’s have changed forever, and expressed her hope that “God takes care of everybody involved.” Sharpe said, “I can’t imagine him doing something that––that’s just not like him, that’s not his character. It’s not.”

Sharpe also revealed that Slager’s wife is pregnant and the baby is due next month.

Watch the video below, via ABC News:

ABC Breaking US News | US News Videos

[image via screengrab]

— —

Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!