Clinton calls SC shooting ‘heartbreaking’
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) said the shooting death of a South Carolina man at the hands of a police officer now charged with murder was “heartbreaking & too familiar” in a message on Wednesday night.
“We can do better — rebuild trust, reform justice system, respect all lives,” she said.
Praying for #WalterScott‘s family. Heartbreaking & too familiar. We can do better – rebuild trust, reform justice system, respect all lives.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 9, 2015
{mosads}Clinton has long been mulling a run for president and is said to be close to launching a campaign.
Her response came as outrage grew over the Scott case, after the release of a video showing the incident. It purportedly shows officer Michael Slager firing off eight rounds, as the unarmed Scott runs away from him. Scott is black and Slager is white.
Slager has been fired from the police force in North Charleston, S.C.
Her call to “do better” also echoed her comments after protests in Ferguson, Mo., sparked by the shooting of an unarmed black man by a white police officer, were met with police responding in military-style gear.
“We don’t want to see our streets look like a war zone. Not in America. We are better than that,” she said in August.
Other possible 2016 candidates have commented on the shooting as well. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson (R) called it an “execution,” and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said it was a “terrible tragedy” that was not reflective of law enforcement in general.
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