COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A white South Carolina trooper has pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in the 2014 shooting an unarmed black driver seconds after a traffic stop.
Trooper Sean Groubert entered his plea Monday. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
The shooting captured on dash-cam video from the trooper’s patrol car shocked the country, coming during a wave of questionable police shootings.
Levar Jones was walking into a convenience store when Groubert got out of his car and demanded Jones’ driver’s license.
Jones turned back to reach in his car and Groubert fired four shots. Jones’ wallet is seen flying out of his hands.
Jones was shot in the hip and survived. Groubert’s boss fired Groubert after seeing the video.
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“and if he was in Ohio, Sean Groubert would still have a job.”
Oh my goodness! What are all the Cop defenders on TPM going to do with this one? Perhaps if they try real hard they can rationalize this one pro-Cop too.
At least he did us all a favor–including his shooting victim–and won’t put everyone through a costly and potentially ugly trial. Let’s hope the presiding judge gives him all the years he deserves.
He probably made a deal with the prosecutors and will only get 2 years probation.
Jesus Kriste on a cracker, I certainly hope not. If the max is 20 years I’d imagine he’ll get between 10 - 15 and some time off for good behavior. He deserves the full 20.