North Carolina Police Officer Shoots Unarmed Man Seeking Help

A North Carolina police officer shot and killed an unarmed man on Saturday morning. According to local media the victim was former Florida A&M University player Jonathan Ferrell.

The 24-year-old victim survived a “serious” car accident just after midnight. He walked half-a-mile away and knocked on a Charlotte woman’s door. According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe:

“To her surprise, it was an individual she did not know or recognize. She immediately closed the door, hit her panic alarm, called 911.”

He added, “It was quite possible he was seeking assistance based on his accident.”

Three police officers responded to the 911 call and spotted Ferrell at the callers home. In their first report officers told local reporters that Ferrell acted aggressively:

“He immediately charged toward the three officers, one in particular. That officer in particular fired his weapon several times, striking the individual multiple times.”

That statement appeared to reverse and later in the day the officer arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

According to the police department officer Randall Kerrick is “devastated” by the shooting but has not given a public statement of his own at this time.

Monroe said investigators found that Kerrick “did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon during this encounter” and that the shooting was “excessive.”

The Charlotte Observer spoke with Monroe who added:

“It’s with heavy hearts and significant regrets it’s come to this. Our hearts go out to the Ferrell family and many members of the [Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department] family. This is never something easy.”

Ferrell was a safety for the Florida A&M University men’s football team.

More details to follow once more details about the unarmed shooting are eventually reported.