Unarmed man killed by North Carolina police officer

 

By: Brionna D. Pinkney

 

(Photo Courtesy of Google)

 

(Charlotte, North Carolina)- Saturday night police received a frantic call from a woman stating that she believed that someone was attempting to break in her home. Initially when the unknown individual knocked on her door, she believed it to be her husband. Upon answering the door she realized that it was in fact a man she did not know.

The panicked woman immediately slammed her door and notified local authorities. The police responded to the call and found Jonathan Ferrell. Officers stated that Ferrell ran towards them, and an officer fired his stun gun. The stun gun was unsuccessful leading the use of a firearm.

Officer Randall Kerrick fired a total of 12 shots, 10 of which struck Ferrell. Of the three officers present, Kerrick was the only one who responded by opening fire. In reports officers described that Ferrell “charged” them.

Ferrell was killed immediately and was not armed. There are no reports that suggests that the officers had reason to believe that the man was armed. All three officers have been placed on paid leave.

It was later discovered that Ferrell may have been trying to seek help after he’d crashed his vehicle. The car crash appeared to be very serious, and Ferrell may have resorted to climbing out of the vehicle’s back window.

Friends took to social media demanding justice for Ferrell and referring to him as their “brother”. Ferrell would have been 25, and was engaged. The incident has caused some uproar, due to past occurrences with the slaying of unarmed African American males by police officers.

However, Randall later turned himself in and was released on $50,000 bond. He is also facing voluntary manslaughter charges.