COLUMBIA, S.C. — A white police officer who shot a 68-year-old black man to death last year following a chase faces a felony gun charge, in addition to his indictment of misconduct in office.
North Augusta officer Justin Craven was charged Tuesday with discharging a gun into an occupied vehicle in the February 2014 death of Ernest Satterwhite, the State Law Enforcement Division said in a release.
The 25-year-old officer faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $1,000 if convicted.
Craven chased Satterwhite for 9 miles beyond city limits to the man’s driveway in Edgefield County. After Satterwhite parked, the officer repeatedly fired through the driver-side door.
State Rep. Joe Neal, a Democrat, said the charge is a sad commentary on local politics, saying the prosecutor has charged Craven with what he can to “bring some sort of justice out of this.”