A South Carolina State Trooper has been fired after a dash camera installed inside the vehicle shows an encounter in which the officer shoots a guy at a Circle K gas station.
The Department of Public Safety Director, Leroy Smith, fired Sean Groubert September 19th after seeing the video and report from the State Law Enforcement Division.
In the video, Groubert can be heard asking Levar Jones for his license. As soon as Jones reaches inside his vehicle, the police officer begins firing his weapon, shouting “get on the ground, get on the ground.”
Jones, who was hit in the hip, stumbles away from the car, throws up his hand and can be heard asking the officer, “what did I do” and “what did I do Sir?”
After asking Jones to put his hands behind his back, the officer then starts to assist…after he shot at him 4 times and almost killed an innocent man.
The officer says he stopped him for not having a seat belt.
The fired officer was arrested Wednesday and charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Bond was set at $75,000.
A warrant states that audio and visual recordings, as well as written statements, indicate the shooting was without justification.
In dismissing Groubert, Smith called the facts of the case “disturbing.”
