Prosecutor: White officer panicked before shooting black man
Source: Associated Press
Prosecutor: White officer panicked before shooting black man
Jeffrey Collins, Associated Press
Updated 11:42 am, Monday, August 3, 2015
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) A white Charlotte police officer on trial for the on-duty killing of a black man panicked and didn't identify himself or give any commands before shooting 12 times at the agitated man seeking help in an unfamiliar neighborhood after a car crash, a prosecutor said during opening statements Monday.
Any agitation by Jonathan Ferrell was because of the September 2013 wreck, which was so violent he lost his cellphone and had to kick out a window to escape. He gave officer Randall Kerrick no reason to fear for his life and resort to deadly force, prosecutor Adren Harris said.
But an attorney for Kerrick said Ferrell made a number of bad choices after drinking and smoking marijuana following a fight with his fiancee. As officers arrived, he yelled "shoot me!" Ferrell then charged at Kerrick and two other officers before they could assess the situation and tried to grab Kerrick's gun when he fell on him after being shot several times, defense attorney Michael Greene said.
"This case is not about race. It never was about race. This case was about choices Jonathan Ferrell's bad choices," Greene said.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Charlotte-officer-s-voluntary-manslaughter-trial-6421120.php
TexasProgresive
(12,157 posts)And should lose his law enforcement officer license forever.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)I believe this..... white officers "panicked". Bullshit.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)several days ago that 560 black men had died at the hands of the police. Remember when we where keeping track of the numbers during the Irapi war? We need to do something like that for unarmed black people. It would not hurt to add an aside for others who were also killed for exceptionally little reasons. They are also killing the homeless, disabled and other minorities.
I doubt that many people actually know it is that many.
some kind of central data base, especially with technological resources available. The only untruth will be cops fudging figures because of "drop pieces", drugs ect, and as is now, any excuse will do. But not saying it's not doable....they need a lightbulb(idea) smilie....
jwirr
(39,215 posts)for an arrest deserves their day in court - not a police administered trial. I cannot do this because at the age of 73 I do not know the technology of a project like this so someone else needs to do it. But DU is good at this type of thing.
Hopefully someone here reading our posts can help set this up.
Thanks for listening.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)I feel ya!!!! Lot of smart people come through this place....mmmmmmaybe...
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)Didn't the officer make a choice to shoot?
cstanleytech
(26,299 posts)Downwinder
(12,869 posts)he should not be allowed to have a gun.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)End violence now. Choose peace instead.