An unarmed man who was shot and killed by a police officer in North Carolina after a wreck was a former football player for Florida A&M University, school officials said Sunday.
Jonathan A. Ferrell, 24, played for the school in 2009-10 and had recently moved to North Carolina. Early Saturday, he had apparently been in a wreck and was seeking help at a nearby house early Saturday, according to a statement from Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. A woman answered the door and, when she didn't recognize the man, called 911.
The Charlotte Observer reported that the car crash was so severe that Ferrell likely had to “pull himself out” of the wreckage. He then walked to the nearest house, about a half mile away, to seek assistance. But the local resident whose home Ferrell arrived at was frightened that he was attempting to burglarize her after not recognizing him. A Black male never gets the benefit of the doubt and the worst is always thought of him in these instances. Now I understand why when I was a child and traveled down south with My Uncle Juney and my Aunt Jean why he put his foot through the pedal when traveling through certain states and didn't stop!
Officers responding to the breaking-and-entering call found Ferrell a short distance from the home, police said. As they approached him, Ferrell ran toward the officers and was hit with a Taser. Police said he continued to run toward them when officer Randall Kerrick fired his gun, hitting Ferrell several times. Ferrell died at the scene.
Police called the Ferrell and Kerrick's initial encounter " appropriate and lawful. But in their statement late Saturday, they said "the investigation showed that the subsequent shooting of Mr. Ferrell was excessive" (YA THINK?) and "Kerrick did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon during this encounter."
Police said Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter, which under North Carolina law involves killing without malice using "excessive force" in exercising "imperfect self-defense." Imperfect self defense??/WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Police were not expected to further describe the incident Sunday, CMPD spokesman Officer Keith Trietley said, and a report was not available Sunday.
Randall Kerrick, 27, of Midland, turned himself in for booking Saturday evening and was released on $50,000 bond, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office website. Kerrick joined the police force in April 2011.
FAMU Interim Athletic Director Michael Smith confirmed Sunday that Ferrell played the safety position for the school's football team during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to his family during their time of bereavement," Smith said in an emailed statement.
A public records search indicated that Ferrell began living in Charlotte early this year after moving from Tallahassee, Fla., home to FAMU.
Before Randll Kerrick was charged, police chief Rodney Monroe describe the accident in a news conference: Jon Ferrell was driving a vehicle that crashed into trees off a northeast Charlotte road early Saturday, and the wreck was so severe he would have had to climb out of the back window to escape. Monroe said he didn't know what caused the crash and didn't say whether Ferrell suffered injuries, The Charlotte Observer reported
Mr.Ferrell apparently walked about a half-mile to the nearest house and was "banging on the door viciously" to attract attention, Monroe said. Thinking it was her husband coming home late from work, the woman who lives there opened the door. When she saw Ferrell, she shut it and called police about 2:30 a.m., Monroe said.
Police Chief Monroe said he didn't think the unarmed Ferrell made threats or tried to rob the woman.
But she was afraid for her life! You know what? I'm afraid for my life...Remind me to stay out of North Carolina and the State of Florida. I'm the wrong gender and the wrong race.
11 comments:
They're just blasting us for fun -- once again.
I'm just shaking my damn head at this!
Unbelieveable!
Im shocked at how this woman who answered the door could possibly think he was trying to break in or rob her when he was in a accident where blood clearly should have been visible. I am shocked...This is just crazy!
This shit needs to stop! I'm sorry, that's just how I feel.
At least the cop who shot this guy was charged with something...Unlike Zimmerman
Keith, this is an example of what fear can do! That police officer was afraid! No one pulls a gun without the clear intention to use deadly force. Both men were young(compared to us)and obviously inexperienced. Now one is dead and the other's life ended in another way.
North Carolina needs help! Look at their lying new governor. Look what they've done with voting laws. They cut voting on black college campuses. Women's reproductive rights have been snatched off the table!
My son is running for re-election to his city council. He's formed a coalition that prevented their city from putting back up a monument to the confederate soldiers. The rebel flag no longer waves over little Reidsville! He's fought for water rights, could you believe it- water rights- in poor communities.
So put some money where your mouth is and support his campaign and the campaigns of others who seek to do what is right for our people, ALL people!
Two things: (1) for the lady who called 911 to report a breaking and entering, how the fuck is it breaking and entering when he's knocking on your door asking for help? (2) I thought police were trained to use deadly force only when absolutely necessary. Someone running towards you after having escaped from a serious accident and still dealing with the shock from that does not constitute an immediate threat to your life. It seems to me that when it comes to young black men police have a "shoot first, ask questions never" mentality, especially if you can "justify" him being a threat. Another senseless tragedy.
Simple...Because these people think Black man=criminals. You never hear about shit like this happening to anyone other than Black men.
So true this hurts my heart
Keith,there simply are not enough words to put an end to this nonsense.
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