CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WTXL) - A grand jury has refused to indict Charlotte Police Officer Randall Kerrick for his role in the shooting death of former Florida A&M University football player Jonathan Ferrell.
The panel of jurors determined on Tuesday that the voluntary manslaughter charges brought against Kerrick by the North Carolina Attorney General's office should not be pressed; but rather that the office should pursue lesser included charges instead.
North Carolina's Attorney General Roy Cooper released a statement disputing the grand jury's findings. “Today, our prosecutors learned that the grand jury that considered the indictment on charges of voluntary manslaughter was less than a full panel," Cooper's statement reads. "It would be in the best interest of justice to resubmit this case to a full grand jury, which we plan to do as soon as possible.”
Officer Randall Kerrick shot Jonathan Ferrell in Charlotte on the night of September 14, 2013. Ferrell had crashed his car and was seeking help, when an area homeowner called the police. Officer Kerrick responded to the scene, when Ferrell began to run towards Kerrick's police cruiser, reportedly to ask for help. Kerrick opened fire with 12 shots, 10 of which hit Ferrell, killing him. Kerrick maintains that he fired in self-defense.
Jonathan Ferrell's family currently has a lawsuit pending against the Charlotte Police Chief, Officer Kerrick, the city of Charlotte, and Mecklenburg County -- accusing them of gross negligence in Ferrell's death.
