NBC News – by Gabe Gutierrez and Tracy Connor
Less than a week after one grand jury declined to charge him, a different one has indicted a Charlotte, N.C., police officer for voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of an unarmed man who was looking for help after a car crash.
Prosecutors resubmitted the case against Officer Randall Kerrick after learning not all 18 members of the original grand jury were present for last Tuesday’s vote.
Kerrick, 28, a three-year veteran of the Charlotte police force, shot Jonathan Ferrell, 24, 10 times in a confrontation in September. Ferrell had crashed his car and staggered for help to a nearby home, where the resident called 911 to report a possible break-in.
Ferrell’s family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit earlier this month, arguing that autopsy results showing a downward trajectory by most of the 10 bullets suggested the former Florida A&M University football player was on his knees or on the ground.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department supported the charge against Kerrick, saying his actions were “excessive.”
After the first grand jury voted not to indict, Kerrick’s attorney had said the officer felt “like the weight of the world has been lifted from his shoulders.”
His legal team declined comment on Monday.
Ferrell’s family said they were grateful for the indictment.
“Shooting an unarmed man 10 times can never be justified under these circumstances,” the said. “We will persevere in our quest for justice for not just Jonathan, but all law abiding citizens. After all, what happened to him that night could happen to any of us.”
This ptg knew that he wanted to shoot to kill/murder the minute that he started his shift. Hell, I do not know any body that doesn`t know how he is doing at the start of his shift be it a fctory job or a professional type job. Believing that, this cop should be brought up on pre meditated murder at he very least. Yea, this cop just wanted to put another notch on his fire arm. Yea he should loose all of his rights to own a fire arm also. A cop that shoots somebody like this is dangerous and needs to be locked up for a long time
Justice for the victum, so very rare.
I’m guessing that he was only charged because of public outrage.
The grand jury was worried about their own necks being stretched, so they’re throwing a pig to the dogs in an attempt to save their own skin, or else they’d be happy to let him walk.
Yes JR, that and also that fact that he was a former A & M Florida University Football player too.
Isn’t it funny how there are quite a few other murders done by police that have taken place and yet it is the black guys murderer who gets indicted… I am not racist I just think there are other victims that need justice as well. This all makes me sick but if we can get one of these cops locked up then bonus! God bless us all…
The POS looks spun in that photo.