Mistrial in police shooting of unarmed motorist

Prosecutors in Charleston, S.C., say they plan to retry former police officer Michael Slager in the shooting death of unarmed motorist Walter Scott. After a six-week trial and 22 hours of deliberations, the jury in Slager’s first murder trial announced today it could not reach a verdict in the case. Slager shot Scott on April 4, 2015, after stopping him for a broken taillight. Cellphone video recorded by a bystander showed Slager shooting Scott five times in the back as he ran away. The shooting sparked renewed calls for a national evaluation of the way white police officers treat African-American suspects and was one of a string of similar incidents across the country that prompted protests. Slager’s defense team maintained the confrontation between their client and Scott involved much more than is shown on the video. Shortly after the shooting, the North Charleston Police Department fired Slager and prosecutors charged him with murder.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.