Former Florida A&M University football player Jonathan Ferrell died after receiving multiple shots from a North Carolina police officer while he was seeking for help after surviving a car crash Saturday morning, Yahoo! reported Sept. 15.
A North Carolina police officer was charged with voluntary manslaughter Saturday after he fatally shot an unarmed man who had survived a car crash accident in Charlotte and was apparently looking for help, police said.
The victim - later identified as Jonathan Ferrell, a former Florida A&M University football player - was shot by the officer multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene early Saturday.
The 27-year-old officer, Randall Kerrick, turned himself to the police for the death of the 24-year-old late Saturday, but was released on a $50,000 bond.
"The shooting of Mr. Ferrell was excessive," the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said in a statement. "Our investigation has shown that Officer Kerrick did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon during this encounter."
Police said, Ferrell crashed his vehicle into the woods, climbed out of his car, and reportedly walked a half-mile to the nearest house to ask for help. He began "banging on the door viciously," Charlotte-Mecklenburg Chief Rodney Monroe said, adding, "It was quite possible he was seeking assistance based on his accident."
However, the woman inside the house thought Ferrell was a burglar and prompted the police shortly around 2:30 a.m. saying that the unarmed man attempted to break-in.
Reports said that Kerrick and two other officers responded to the scene and surrounded Ferrell, who "immediately charged" at the police officer. One officer reportedly attempted to subdue Jonathan Ferrell with a taser but it was no use. Kerrick then decided to fire his weapon "several times" towards Ferrell, Monroe said.
"He immediately charged toward the three officers, one in particular," Monroe said. "That officer in particular fired his weapon several times, striking the individual multiple times."
"It's with heavy hearts and significant regrets it's come to this," Monroe added. "Our hearts go out to the Ferrell family and many members of the CMPD family."
Charlotte Observer reported that the police initially said Kerrick's actions were "appropriate and lawful."
Nevertheless, a subsequent investigation found the officer, who joined the police department in 2011, had "violated the law regarding voluntary manslaughter."
Under North Carolina law, voluntary manslaughter s defined as killing without malice using "excessive force" in exercising "imperfect self-defense," the paper added.
Meanwhile, Monroe said that Ferrell never threatened the woman since there was no evidence to support such claim. Alcohol was also out of the question in the car crash accident, Monroe added.
The other two officers involved in the incident are currently placed on paid administrative leave.
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
