North Charleston police say the officer they charged with killing Walter Scott was investigated for using excessive force in 2013.
Officials initially cleared Officer Michael Slager in the case, but said they are now reviewing that decision.
Meanwhile, the man who took cellphone video of the deadly shooting says he feared for his life after taking the video.
WSB-TV investigative reporter Mark Winne traveled to Charleston and spent Thursday afternoon with the victim's family.
“Yes, I may cry, because that's my son, but as far as violence and hate and all of that is concerned, no, I have no hate. There's love, the love of Jesus. He's on the inside,” said Judy Scott, Walter’s mother. “God will see us through no matter what.”
Atlanta attorney L. Chris Stewart said the video of the shooting made him angry.
"It brought tears to my eyes. I just had to walk off and calm down," Stewart said.
Stewart said the family refreshed his faith.
“I actually prayed this morning when I woke up, which I hadn't done in a while,” Stewart said.
Stewart said an Atlanta relative of Walter Scott's family put them in touch with each other soon after Scott was fatally shot by North Charleston Police Officer Michael Slager.
But before Stewart knew any video of the incident existed, he said, “It was something in my gut saying something just didn't sound right.”
Stewart said the courageous witness who shot the video had shown it to a family member but hadn't turned it over yet.
“He was scared for his life,” Stewart said.
The lawyer said he spoke with the witness, but in the end, it was the Scott family that gave him the courage follow through with his desire to do the right thing.
He said he, and South Carolina co-counsel Justin Bamberg, took possession of the video.
“We reap what we sow, yes we do. But I have forgiven him, yes I have. I have forgiven him,” said Judy Scott.
In a statement sent to Winne by attorney Andy Savage, he said that Slager had retained him as his counsel.
“We have initiated our investigation. I suspect it will take some time. As we focus in on the facts, we will probably have more to say, but it is far too early for us to be saying what we think," the statement said.
