A retrial date has been set in the Walter Scott police shooting case

Impact

A retrial date has been set in the trial of former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager for the shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott after a jury was unable to reach a verdict earlier this month. A judge has set the new trial date for March 1, 2017, USA Today reported on Thursday. 

In April, 2015, Slager, then a North Charleston, South Carolina, police officer, pulled Scott over in a traffic stop. Slager then fatally shot Scott, who was unarmed, as Scott attempted to flee on foot. Authorities say Slager shot Scott a total of five times.

Grace Beahm/AP

The shooting was captured on video by a bystander, who recorded it on his cellphone. The footage of Slager shooting Scott sparked national outrage. The bystander who recorded the footage testified in the first trial, according to USA Today.

A mistrial was declared earlier this month after a jury was unable to reach a consensus in the case. The jury had the option to convict Slager on charges of either murder or voluntary manslaughter, USA Today reported. 

After the first trial ended in a mistrial, prosecutor Scarlett Wilson released a statement expressing "disappointment that this case was not resolved," ABC News reported at the time, and said "We will try Michael Slager again."