Disturbing Dashcam Video Released Of South Carolina Trooper Opening Fire On Unarmed Man
Disturbing dashcam video was released showing a shooting involving a former South Carolina state trooper and an unarmed man in South Carolina who was stopped for a seat belt violation.
31-year-old Sean Groubert shot 35-year-old Levar Jones on September 4th at a Circle K gas station.
[su_center_ad]Groubert was charged on Wednesday with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in connection with the incident. Bond was set at $75,000, according to WLTX.
The footage shows Jones getting out of his car. Groubert instructs him to get his driver’s license.
Jones can be seen reaching into his car for his license and Groubert immediately open fires on him.
Jones was hit by one bullet in the hip and is recovering at home after being hospitalized for the injury.
While shooting, Groubert can be heard yelling, “Get out of the car, get out of the car.”
“I just got my license, you said get my license,” Jones replies.
Groubert tells Jones to get on the ground.
Jones says while on the ground, “I have my license right here, you said get my license.”
Groubert asks Jones if he was hit by a bullet and Jones says, “Why did you shoot me?” The officer responds, “Bro, you dove headfirst back into your car.”
Groubert’s attorney, former Fifth Circuit Solicitor Barney Geise, said after seeing the video that his client is not guilty.
According to WLTX, South Carolina Department of Public Safety Director Leroy Smith fired Groubert on September 19th after observing the video footage and reviewing a report from the State Law Enforcement Division. Smith called the facts of the case “disturbing.”
Watch:
Groubert could face 20 years in prison.
H/T: The incomparable @CarlaAkins with thanks.[su_csky_ad]
Carla Akins September 25th, 2014 at 10:05 am
Gee, I’m shocked he was indicted. :-/
Anomaly 100 September 25th, 2014 at 10:09 am
Me too, and in South Carolina.
rg9rts September 25th, 2014 at 10:17 am
Nick Name….Bubba
Blogvader September 25th, 2014 at 10:22 am
I am too.
Glad they had it on video.
Suzanne McFly September 25th, 2014 at 1:13 pm
And they actually released it.
mea_mark September 25th, 2014 at 10:16 am
Why do police departments hire idiots and give them guns? You can’t shoot someone for doing what you are asking them to do. We need higher standards for LE’s in this country and they need to be regulated federally so when people travel they know what to expect.
Roctuna September 25th, 2014 at 10:46 am
I agree there’s a huge problem but what you’ve described would become the “Common Core” of law enforcement debates. I see too many ex-military bringing the military training to the streets. These days if you don’t do what you’re told, you get shot, tased, beaten or all three. If do what you’re told, but you do it too quickly, apparently you still could get a triple whammy. How is a civilian supposed to judge the patience of the cop? And then you have the Oklahoma pd that says “If you don’t want to increase your odds of being raped, don’t encounter us”.
mea_mark September 25th, 2014 at 11:05 am
I guess I should add that I think all LE officers should be required to do community service as part of their job so they are actually in touch with the community. I think an officer is likely to gun someone down if he helped them two weeks earlier to get a hot meal. It is the separation of the officers from the community that I think is causing the most problems. They are in a different class and follow different rules.
rg9rts September 25th, 2014 at 10:17 am
And here we thought that the NYPD had the corner on thugs
Denise September 25th, 2014 at 10:46 am
“found the facts of the case disturbing.” aren’t they all?
tiredoftea September 25th, 2014 at 12:06 pm
How many more cops like this are still working in our communities and state roads?
crc3 September 25th, 2014 at 4:28 pm
More than you or I can imagine…
fahvel September 25th, 2014 at 2:10 pm
a lng long time in a real southern prison for the putain cop.
Hirightnow September 25th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
Cops don’t go to regular prisons, because “reasons”.
He’d go to a special section or dedicated federal prison for this.
Bunya September 25th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
Not that it would make a difference in this case, but whatever happened to tazers? This cop is lucky the victim didn’t die.
Hirightnow September 25th, 2014 at 2:55 pm
Or is he?
whatthe46 September 25th, 2014 at 2:38 pm
get shot for seat belt violation? that’s a new one. what’s next, you looked right, you looked left, but didn’t look right again. bang bang.
Hirightnow September 25th, 2014 at 2:55 pm
“I DIDN’T say to place your hands {BLAM} so {BLAM} far {BLAM} apart {BLAM} {BLAM} {BLAM}”
whatthe46 September 25th, 2014 at 3:03 pm
there should be attempted murder charges as well. he was still being shot at even with his hands in the air. good thing this asswipe is not a good shot. he fired 4 times and only hit him once. thank GOD!
crc3 September 25th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
“Groubert’s attorney, former Fifth Circuit Solicitor Barney Geise, said after seeing the video that his client is not guilty.”
What video was Geise looking at? Apparently not the one the rest of us have seen. Denial is not a river that runs through Egypt. All of these police involved shootings in this country are totally out of control. The apparent mentality is “shoot first then ask questions later”. Inexcusable conduct by the trooper. Twenty years may not be enough for this act of aggression. Jones should also sue the hell out of the state of SC for this assault of violence…