Man talks of recording US police shooting

A man who recorded chilling video of a white policeman gunning down a black man says the shooting followed a struggle in which the officer had gained control of the situation.

The now widely distributed video of South Carolina officer Michael Slager shooting Walter Scott repeatedly in the back was recorded by 23-year-old Feidin Santana.

The video has sparked public outcry and led to a murder charge against Slager after it challenged his account of the shooting, which took place in the coastal city of North Charleston.

The shooting is America's latest high-profile police killing of a black man by a white officer. A string of such shootings of unarmed victims, over which the officers are rarely charged, have sparked protests around the country, with demonstrators alleging racism in the nation's police forces.

"Before I started recording, they were down on the floor. I remember the police (officer) had control of the situation," Santana said in an interview with NBC television about what he saw in the moments before filming started.

"He had control of Scott. And Scott was trying just to get away from the Taser (stun gun)."

"I knew right away, I had something on my hands," he said about recording the video.

Slager was arrested and charged with murder after the video surfaced showing him shooting eight times at Scott, 50, while Scott was running away.

He was fired from the police force on Wednesday after being charged.

Slager could face life in prison or the death penalty.

Mayor Keith Summey announced the sacking at a media conference, which was frequently interrupted by residents angered over the killing.

The mayor said the police department would buy body cameras for officers to wear to help investigate shootings.

Dozens of protesters gathered in front of city hall on Wednesday.

The South Carolina shooting occurred on Saturday following a traffic stop for a broken tail light. After initial police reports claimed Scott had taken Slager's stun gun, Santana's video was released on Tuesday.

The video shows wires from the stun gun extending from Scott's body, implying the victim, rather than the officer, had been hit as the two men scuffled.

As Scott tries to flee, Slager draws his weapon and shoots eight times toward his back.

Slager appears to pick up a device that had fallen during the altercation and drop it by Scott's body.

Scott was hit by five bullets, said family lawyer Chris Stewart, quoting the coroner who examined Scott's body.

Scott's father, also named Walter, said the family was devastated by his son's death, but was grateful for the video evidence.

"The way he was shooting that gun, it looked like he was trying to kill a deer or something running through the woods. I don't know whether it was racial or something wrong with his head or what," the father told NBC.

"I thank God they had the video. God has my back. When I saw it, my heart was broken. I said, 'It can't be'. I saw it. I couldn't take it any more."