CMPD officer charged with voluntary manslaughter in fatal shooting

[Kennah]

Source: WBTV

Family members of the victim of a fatal-officer involved shooting are expected to address the media Monday morning, along with the family's lawyer.
...
The arrest stems from an incident early Saturday morning on the 7500 block of Reedy Creek Road. Police said a woman opened the front door of her house, after she heard knocking, thinking it was her husband coming back home from work. After realizing the man at the door was not her husband, the woman closed the door and called 9-1-1, police said. The man then stood outside the door for a period of time, and tried to get the attention of the homeowner.

Hickory Grove patrol officers arrived at the woman's home on a breaking and entering call. The officers discovered Jonathan Ferrell near the caller's home, matching the description she gave. Police said Ferrell approached three officers and ran towards them. Officer Thornell Little deployed his CMPD-issued Taser at Ferrell but it was unsuccessful. Investigators said Ferrell continued to run towards Officer Randall Kerrick who had his service weapon drawn. Officer Kerrick discharged several rounds striking Ferrell multiple times according to police. Ferrell was pronounced deceased on scene by MEDIC.

CMPD issued a statement Saturday night, saying evidence revealed Officer Kerrick's use of force was excessive and fit the criteria for involuntary manslaughter. Police say their investigation shows Kerrick did not have to fire his weapon during the incident.

Read more: http://www.wbtv.com/story/23430922/police-are-investigating-an-officer-involved-shooting-in-ne-charlotte

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Small glimmer of hope for justice. Perhaps soon Driving While Black will no longer be a crime.

[mtasselin]

1. police

We are turning into a police state, I know that they have to protect themselves, but for alot of these police they view it as target practice.

[csziggy]

2. How is this a "breaking and entering" call?

The man KNOCKED at the door. The woman slammed the door in his face rather than trying to find out why he was there. Certainly he still tried to get assistance - he'd just been in an accident.

But NOWHERE in any of the news stories does it state that Mr. Ferrell attempted to break into the house.

I hope that Mr. Ferrell's family sues the woman who would not even LISTEN to Mr. Ferrell! Her over reaction to seeing a black man who knocked at her door precipitated this situation and led to Mr. Ferrell's death, IMO.

[magical thyme]

3. they have zero grounds for a lawsuit and don't assume it's because he was black

Arguably 911 has grounds for some sort of complaint since it wasn't breaking and entering.

I am a woman living alone in rural Maine. We've had break-ins in our area in recent years. I've learned enough of the locals to know that if a strange man or woman showed up at my door after dark, I wouldn't think of opening it and would immediately call the police.

I wouldn't call it a break-in, but I would certainly call it suspicious.

[mazzarro]

4. Probably burglars in that part of the world do knock on doors

They, indeed, have reasonably mannered thieves that knock on doors in order to break and enter a home

[LisaL]

5. Have you been living under a rock?

Burglars do knock on doors. That's how they check if anyone is at home.
If nobody answers they break in. Sometimes a person doesn't answer even if they are home, and a burglar breaks in. There have been a couple of 911 calls released recently under that scenario.

[Mojo Electro]

6. They absolutely do.

They will knock and force their way in when you open the door, happens all the time.

The blame here lies squarely on the police.

[Nye Bevan]

7. A stranger was pounding on her door at 2:30 AM. She was home alone.

Calling 911 was the correct thing to do, and it is ludicrous to suggest that she be sued. The only person to blame is the cop who shot the guy.

[csziggy]

9. CAlling 911 is fine - considering it breaking & entering is absurd

[Nye Bevan]

10. AFAIK she never claimed it was "breaking and entering" (nt)

[Sunlei]

12. he may not have been able to speak (injuried?) but she did right to call 911.

and the poor guy did right to go for help at the closest house.

[Kelvin Mace]

16. No basis for a lawsuit

The woman, in retrospect, did not act unreasonably based on the circumstances. Certainly the question can be asked if she would have acted the same if a "white man" was on her door step, but that question is academic.

There is a knocking on your door late at night, you open it up and do not recognize the person on your doorstep. You are a woman, unarmed and alone in the house. Slow reactions can mean death or worse.

I agree that the woman, in hindsight, had no reason to believe her house was being broken into. But, fear does funny things to people.

While I am not a lawyer, I am an amateur student of the law, and have sued a few people in my day, including the police. There are no grounds to sustain a lawsuit.

[heaven05]

8. nothing worse

than a cowardly, possibly racist 'peace' officer. Sad situation for the deceased and his family. After his serious accident he was probably in shock. One is never completely together mentally or emotionally after a serious car accident.

[Sunlei]

11. how very tragic.some officers treat everyone as a threat. is it because of military experiences?

[Kelvin Mace]

13. There has GOT to be some pretty damning evidence

for the police to charge manslaughter on a cop.

[Ash_F]

14. Yeah it probably did not happen as described in the article at all

Last edited Tue Sep 17, 2013, 09:14 AM - Edit history (1)

Everybody loves charging at police through tasers and batons and pepper spray ect ect. that's why they have to shoot.

Yeah that's BS. Every time.

[Kelvin Mace]

15. If that was actually what happened

they would call it a "good shoot" and be giving the cop a medal.

There must be really ugly video of the incident.

[Ash_F]

18. Yeah people are freaking terminators when there is no camera on them.

[askeptic]

17. 10 Times? He had to shoot him 10 times?!

We are not supposed to be talking about some inexperienced amateur here who gets terrified and squeezes the trigger until it just clicks -- we are talking about a police officer. Why in the hell does ANYONE need to be shot 10 times? We won't even get into the fact that this man had no weapon and that would have been obvious.

Cops are using deadly force way too much -- this has to stop.