Posted on 09/15/2013 3:05:55 PM PDT by nickcarraway
North Carolina's Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department says Jonathan A. Ferrell, 24, may have been seeking assistance after a car crash. But when he ran toward officers, the former Florida A&M University football player was killed.
An unarmed North Carolina man who was shot and killed by police while running toward an officer may have only been seeking help after surviving a car crash.
Jonathan A. Ferrell, 24, was shot multiple times when authorities say he surprised a trio of police officers with Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department by running toward them around 2 a.m. Saturday.
Officer Randall Kerrick, 27, reacted by firing his weapon with "excessive" and "unlawful" force, his department now believes, killing the former Florida A&M University football player who recently moved to the area.
"(Ferrell) immediately charged towards the three officers, one in particular. That officer fired his weapon several times, striking the individual multiple times," Police Chief Rodney Monroe said in a press conference.
Use of a stun gun was attempted by an officer prior to the shooting according to police but its discharge was "unsuccessful."
Officer Randall Kerrick, 27, turned himself in Saturday just after a warrant was signed for his arrest on voluntary manslaughter charges.
Ferrell was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say Ferrell's description matched one given by a woman who moments earlier called 911 reporting a man as wildly knocking on her front door and attempting to break in. Officers now believe this man described as resembling Ferrell may have just been trying to get help.
A mangled vehicle believed to have belonged to Ferrell was later discovered in some nearby woods.
"We believe that vehicle belonged to the individual who was shot. It's quite possible he was seeking assistance. Based on his accident, it was a pretty serious accident," said Monroe.
Police say Jonathan A. Ferrell's description matched one given by a woman who moments earlier called 911 to report a man as wildly knocking on her front door, pictured. Police now believe he only wanted help. WSOCTV.COM
Police say Jonathan A. Ferrell's description matched one given by a woman who moments earlier called 911 to report a man as wildly knocking on her front door, pictured. Police now believe he only wanted help.
WBTV reported the driver of that vehicle had to climb out the back window to escape due to the severity of the crash.
A warrant was signed for Kerrick's arrest for voluntary manslaughter just before he turned himself in Saturday.
"The evidence revealed that Mr. Ferrell did advance on Officer Kerrick and the investigation showed that the subsequent shooting of Mr. Ferrell was excessive," police said in a statement issued late Saturday. "Our investigation has shown that Officer Kerrick did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon during this encounter."
The two-year police veteran, who joined the force in April 2011, the Charlotte Observer reports, is currently in police custody.
Monroe described him as "devastated" by the death when contacted by WSOC-TV. Not far from the scene of the shooting police discovered a wrecked vehicle, crashed in the woods. They now believe it may have been driven by Ferrell and he escaped seeking help. WSOCTV.COM
Not far from the scene of the shooting police discovered a wrecked vehicle, crashed in the woods. They now believe it may have been driven by Ferrell and he escaped seeking help.
"He is pretty shook up," he said.
The two officers with Kerrick at the time of the shooting are currently on paid administrative leave, which is a routine procedure following a shooting involving an officer, according to the department.
"My hearts goes out to the Ferrell family, quite naturally, as well as the main members of the CMPD family. This is never something easy to deal with, never something easy for us to quite grasp, but we are going to rise form this as we have from other things," said Monroe.
FAMU interim athletic director Michael Smith confirmed to the Associated Press Sunday that Ferrell played the safety position for the Rattlers in 2009-10.
It’s ok, no biggie - the cop definitely does not have a police officer look about him - and Ferrell seems very clean cut and professional. So,I can see how anyone would automatically think it was Ferrell was the officer.
Absolutely right on! We are now a nation of “law” enforcement folks - note that it has nothing to do with enforcing the laws, nothing to do with the citizenry. They have become a group unto themselves and it shows.
Something about that cop’s face that makes me think of banjos.
>> “ Based on his accident, it was a pretty serious accident...” <<
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Where does one learn to write like this?
>> “Everyday we hear all kind of stories about those individuals who have gone through intensive training on how to evaluate a situation, establish alternative methods of dealing with the events, and then performing the proper response to these conditions.” <<
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Frankly, we hear very little of that any more.
What we almost universally hear now, is accounts of poorly, or improperly trained officers firing their weapons without even the smallest of reasons.
Absolutely right on! We are now a nation of “law” enforcement folks - note that it has nothing to do with enforcing the laws, nothing to do with the citizenry. They have become a group unto themselves and it shows.
Well and “Revenue Officers” that setup speed takes like highwaymen shaking down the citizenry for slights against the king for driving slightly too fast under the reason of “Public Safety”....
>> “Keeping officers safe is the most important responsibility of the police.” <<
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If that is true, then it is imperitive that we disband all police departments, as they have come loose from their founding purpose.
Obviously, this was a “suicide by cop” encounter. Nothing to see here, citizens. Move along. [sarcasm off]
Ah, your are right - they have come loose from the original purpose! Maybe as folks have stated earlier in this post, they are money changers with benefits!
Seems that over time both politicians and police become the antithesis of the public desires.
I don't know if it's true, but it is what many police departments say is their most important consideration.
Nah, just another line bred idiot white boy who couldn't make it into the State Police Academy. So he kills a cool black dude who was probably still in shock from the car crash. If he makes it out of the slammer he can always find a job on the NY Police Department. On Bloombergs NYPD, shooting innocent black dudes is a career booster.
the cop looks like the bulb burns dimly................i would do a blood workup on the victim, he may have crashed his car because he was high or drunk and then would not be fun to deal with
yes he was black and the cop was white and dumb looking
cop is likely on something, I hope they got a blood sample
Dueling banjos?
Yes, it’s pretty ridiculous isn’t it. Also we see as in the case of Kelly Thomas that merely standing there can get you whacked with a baton in the legs to make you fall and then after you’re down having the audacity to resist (or even just cry for your dad) the brutal illegal treatment can get you killed.
Lol yes
As in "Deliverance" dueling banjos.
There is a little resemblance, don’t you think? Kind go a grown up version of the kid.
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