Like many of you, Charley Nelson has been following the case where a South Carolina state trooper, Sean Groubert (now an ex-state trooper), shot an unarmed man, Levar Jones, after a traffic stop for a seat belt violation. If you haven't seen the video, I'm not going to post it here, but do a Google or Youtube search for Sean Groubert and you will find it quite easily.

I've heard and read lots of reports and opinions on this incident and most people seem quite baffled as to why Groubert shot Jones. Well, Charley Nelson is going to clear up part of the mystery. Not all of it, but some of it. I believe I know something that everyone else seems to be overlooking.

Charley Nelson (that's me you know) got pulled over one night. It was around 2:00 AM and the reason I was pulled over was bogus. Something like doing 61 in a 55 mph zone. Yeah, right. What was really going on? At that hour of the night, the officer was pulling over people at random to see if they'd been drinking. A brief conversation proved I hadn't been and I was sent on my way with a mild warning. Many or even most of you have had this happen I am sure. You get pulled over with some silly excuse because the cops are looking for something.

Levar Jones had just pulled into a gas station, parked, and was getting out of his vehicle when suddenly Sean Groubert pulled up to confront him. The excuse? A seat belt violation. Now, come on! If you park your car and then get out you have to take off your seat belt! This was an excuse and it could have been used on anyone. Every single person who pulled into that gas station could have been hit with that same charge! "Hey! You just took off your seat belt!"

Groubert saw something that made him very suspicious. What, I don't know. Was it just because Jones was black? Possibly, but I'm sure Groubert saw many, many black people every day and didn't have this response. Maybe Jones matched the description of a fugitive. Maybe Jones' vehicle was similar to one Groubert was on the lookout for. Who knows but Groubert? But he saw Jones and immediately excepted trouble. He used the seat belt as an excuse to confront him. He was on edge, expecting the situation could very easily spiral out of control, so he had his gun at the ready. When Jones made one slight move he didn't like... Bam! Bam! Bam!

Of course Jones was no fugitive. He was no bad guy. He was just an ordinary fellow on his way home from work. A very sad situation and my heart goes out to you, Levar. I hope you are recovering well.

As for Groubert, he's been fired and a jail sentence is a very real possibility. Well, Sean, you made your own bed...