How Scott's Family Learned of Shooting Video

The family of Walter Scott plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against the police department in North Charleston, South Carolina, reports the Post and Courier. The details of the wrongful death suit haven't been ironed out, however, including whether it will include a racial component. The New York Times, meanwhile, offers a look at how the Scott family first learned that someone had captured the shooting of Scott by officer Michael Slager on video. After a family vigil Sunday at the scene of his death, a man unknown to the family approached brother Anthony Scott and said, "I have something to share with you."

They went into Scott's car, and the stranger—since identified as Feiden Santana—played the video on his phone. Santana was fearful about making it public, and the two struck what the Times calls a "gentleman's agreement"—if the police came clean about what happened the next day, they would keep the video private. "I had to hold my breath and let him go," recalls Scott. The police didn't do so, of course, and Santana kept his word and released the video. Also today, a black man who says that Slager used a Taser on him in 2013 for no reason also plans to file suit, reports the Guardian. (More Walter Scott stories.)