Man who took video of fatal Scott shooting now afraid (+ video)

The man who took the video of the white North Charleston cop firing his gun and killing an unarmed African-American man running away said Thursday he wasn’t fearful at first but later became afraid just after the horrific sight unfolded before his eyes and camera.

When he first started taking the video of what became the shooting, “I didn’t feel anything, There was a lot of emotions combined but I didn’t feel anything,” said Feidin Santana, who spoke in a brief interview with The State on Thursday morning after being made available by his lawyer, Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland.

“But afterward, when I knew what was happening, and I knew the possession that I had in my hand – the information – definitely, I was scared. I knew it was something important in my hands, and like I said, I was scared for my life,” Santana said.

Santana’s video –which has now been viewed by millions – has brought dramatic attention to police shootings of blacks across the nation. Up until this morning, Santana’s identy has not been known. Rutherford began making him available to news media. In recent days, calls for police to wear body cameras have been made by everyone from President Obama to S.C. lawmakers.

The video contradicted official police versions of the shooting and showed in vivid detail that Walter Scott was unarmed and running away from Officer Michael Slager when Slager – as if he was shooting a target on a shooting range – lifted his gun and fired eight times at the fleeing man. The distance appeared to be about 20 yards.

After the shooting, Santana – a 23-year-old barber originally from the Dominican Republic – continued walking to work.

“I just kept my phone with me,” he said.

Later, he heard that the police version of events was that Slager had fired in self-defense and that was why he shot Scott, Santana knew he had to do something.

“That’s what the police report said,” said Santana, who went home and looked for a way to contact Scott’s family. First, he called a friend.

“She saw the video and said, ‘The police report is not saying what really happened’,” Santana said.

After considering some alternatives, such as going to the media, Santana said he decided to give the video to Scott’s family and let them do with it what they thought best.

A lawyer recommended that he get in touch with Rutherford.

Rutherford, who was with Santana when he talked with The State, said the young barber remains fearful.

“He is extremely concerned about his safety,” Rutherfold said. “There are a number of people out there including those police officers who lied when they said they gave him (Scott) CPR when they did not and the video reveals they did not – there are people who are affected by this negatively that may seek retribution on him.”

Currently, Santana doesn’t have a car and feels especially vulnerable when walking to work, Rutherford said.

A fund is going to be set up to buy Santana a car so he can get to work safely, the lawyer said.

Slager has since been fired and charged with murder.

NBC news reports on Santana’s meeting Thursday with Walter Scott’s family

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 10:54 AM with the headline "Man who took video of fatal Scott shooting now afraid (+ video)."