Unarmed man shot by NC police after apparent wreck

[morningfog]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — An unarmed man who may have been involved in a wreck was shot and killed by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Saturday as he ran toward him, officials said.

A statement issued by police said officers responded to a breaking and entering call on the city's east side around 2:30 a.m. Someone had knocked on the door of a residence, and the homeowner opened the door, thinking it was her husband. When she discovered it wasn't, she closed the door and called 911.

When officers arrived, they found Jonathan A. Ferrell, 24, a short distance from the home, and he matched a description given by the homeowner, police said.

The statement said officers approached Ferrell to investigate the original call. Ferrell ran toward the officers and was hit with a Taser. Ferrell continued to run toward police when Ofc. Randall Kerrick fired his weapon, hitting Ferrell several times. Ferrell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said they think a wrecked car discovered down an embankment in nearby woods may have been driven by Ferrell, and detectives are trying to find out if he was trying to get help from the resident who called 911.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe told a news conference that he didn't think Ferrell was trying to rob the woman.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/crime/article/Unarmed-man-shot-by-NC-police-after-apparent-wreck-4815330.php

[Live and Learn]

1. Shoot first, ask questions later. nt

[lumpy]

2. Could never had said it better.

[gopiscrap]

3. Like I've said, fucking cops are out of control and need to be reined in!

[AnotherMcIntosh]

4. The story by the police sounds bogus:

"Ferrell ran toward the officers and was hit with a Taser. Ferrell continued to run toward police ..."

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Yeah, it would be good to hear from a non-police witness.

[Alamuti Lotus]

5. Shoot first, answer no questions later. *nt

[truebluegreen]

7. Looking for Help while Black...

[AnotherMcIntosh]

8. The cop has now been arrested on a charge of voluntary manslaughter.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/14/4313045/cmpd-chief-to-hold-press-conference.html

[GReedDiamond]

9. GOOD! KnR...nt

[Th1onein]

10. GOOD.

I hope he goes to prison. He shouldn't be a cop, that's for sure. I'm tired of these cowboys shooting first and asking questions later.

[Turbineguy]

11. A second victim

of bad policy and training.

[TransitJohn]

12. I am literally amazed that they arrested the cop

Wow.

[An_enlightened_soul]

13. Why amazed?

There have been a number of officers charged over the last few years for shooting people without justification.

[TransitJohn]

14. Right.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

15. A number have been charged? I doubt that it is more than 10. Either (1) prosecutors generally

don't go after cops no matter what they do or (2) cops are not delivering excessive and unnecessary violence or regular basis.