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In 2014, people were shocked when video emerged of an encounter between unarmed Black driver Levar Jones and South Carolina State Trooper Sean Groubert in Columbia, South Carolina. The encounter occurred at a gas station where Jones was getting out of his car too walk into the store and Groubert demanded to see Jones’ drivers license. Jones complies with the officer’s demands and reaches into his car to retrieve his license. Groubert shouts “Let me see your hands” and immediately fires his gun four times at close range, hitting Jones once in the hip.
As Jones falls to the ground he screams in pain, “What did I do wrong? I was getting my license like you said.” Groubert asks him if he was all right and Jones responds, “I can’t feel my legs. Why did you shoot me?” Groubert is then heard asking for assistance on his radio as the dashcam in his squad car records the entire incident. While Jones was on the ground, he asked the officer once again what he did wrong and the reason for being targeted by Groubert in the first place and the officer replied that Jones was not wearing a seatbelt. Fortunately, Jones survived the shooting and during the investigation the trooper gave an interesting version of events. Groubert maintained that Jones refused his lawful orders and continued to come towards him so he shot Junes in fear of his life. The statements were proven false and Jones received a settlement of $285K from the State of South Carolina. Groubert was initially charged with felony, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. A bond was set at $75K in September 2014. Groubert was fired by the South Carolina of Public Safety Department and his case was turned over to the courts. Yesterday, Groubert pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
