Shocking video shows US cop shoot man as he fetches licence
Video footage has emerged showing a US police officer who requested a man’s licence and registration – and then shot him as he reached inside his car to fetch them.
Officer Sean Groubert, 31, ordered driver Levar Edward Jones to pull over at a Colombia petrol station on suspicion of failure to wear a seatbelt.
Jones steps out of his vehicle, and is immediately asked to produce his licence and registration.
As he reaches in to get the documents from his car, Groubert shouts: "Get out of the car!" and then "Get on the ground!".
He then fires four shots at Jones, one of which was fired when Jones is backing away with his hands up.
"Sir, why was I shot? All I did was reach for my licence. I'm coming from work," he protested.
At least one of the bullets is reported to have hit Mr Jones in the hip, who later required hospital treatment.
The police officer has since been suspended and charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, according to WISTV.
South Carolina Highway Patrol director Leroy Smith said that Groubert "reacted to a perceived threat where there was none.
"The department’s Use of Force Policy makes clear that officers shall use ‘only the level of force necessary to accomplish lawful objectives’ and that ‘the use of force must be discontinued when it becomes apparent to the officer that the force is no longer needed.
"That protocol was not followed in this case."
