Ben Carson: S.C. police shooting an 'execution'

Dr. Ben Carson

Ben Carson, one of the Republican Party's most talked-about contender for president in 2016, reacted to the recent police officer shooting of a fleeing black man in South Carolina with this blunt assessment: The video indicates this was more an "execution" than a defensive move.

"Probably like most reasonable people you're aghast," he said, describing the initial reaction to viewing the video in an interview with BuzzFeed. "It's horrible to see an execution take place in the street like that."

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Patrolman First Class Michael Slager, 33, of the North Charleston police force, has been charged with murder in the shooting death of Walter Scott, 50, who died after eight bullets were fired at his back as he retreated.

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"Certainly that policeman was too quick to do it," Carson said. "I don't know if you can always generalize in a situation like that but certainly that officer was wrong."

Carson said the incident gives rise to opportunity for police around the nation to step forward and support the community and family by condemning the killing.

"I think it's so obvious that he was wrong that this provides an excellent opportunity for law enforcement personnel across the country to really come out and condemn this," he said, BuzzFeed reported. "And if they do, that tells us a lot. And if they don't, that tells us a lot."