BREAKING OUT OF CHARLOTTE, NC-Hung Jury Causes Mistrial In Manslaughter Case of Former Officer Randall Kerrick

Screen grab from video
Screen grab from video


The judge declared a mistrial in the voluntary manslaughter case of former officer Randall Kerrick after a hung jury verdict.

Kerrick shot and killed Jonathan Ferrell in September of 2013 in Charlotte, NC.

Surprise, shock, and deep sadness filled the courtroom as we learned of the verdict.

Kerrick killed Jonathan  by shooting at him 12 times, hitting him with 10 bullets.

Prosecutors said that Jonathan had been seeking help in a strange neighborhood following a car accident on the early AM hours of September 14, 2013. After three police officers pulled up on him, Kerrick ended up firing 12 shots at Ferrell, who was unarmed.

The defense argued that Kerrick feared that he would take his gun and so that is why he fired. Kerrick also shot Ferrell numerous times while he was clinging to life on the ground, which the defense and Kerrick himself described as Ferrell still coming at him “trying to take his weapon.”

Many inconsistencies in this case were brought to light through video interviews and Kerrick’s awful testimony. Kerrick taking the stand at all shows the arrogant nature of this killer cop.

He initially couldn’t remember how he got a wound in his mouth, then he tried to say that Ferrell struck him. Also, he and the other officer on the scene, Little, said commands were given that you cannot hear on the dashcam video at all.

Officer Kerrick claimed Ferrell was charging him but the video actually looks like he was using a football maneuver (seeing as how he was a football player) to dodge Kerrick instead.

Many people have been regulars in the courtroom and they have become my family; We ache together, we cry together, we become enraged together, and we fight for justice together. Charlotte has not recieved the attention that other cities have, but make no mistake about it, we will NOT let up. This verdict is not the justice that we need and we will not accept the idea that unloading rapid fire onto an unarmed person is not worth jail time.

Bringing charges against an officer is very rare to begin with. In many ways, the Ferrell family and this community is lucky to have even had a trial. However, this proves that charges are NOT ENOUGH We need convictions!

The Ferrell family has been so remarkably strong and loving throughout this entire situation. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of them and the ability to withhold tears has almost escaped me numerous times. They know who Jonathan was and his image can never be tainted by the racially vitriolic rhetoric from the defense attorneys and by the satanic actions of Kerrick. So while this verdict is disheartening, we continue the fight because this is far from over.

Legally, the State could choose to retry Kerrick, although many spectators and analysts seem to think that is unlikely. Technically speaking, this verdict is better for Ferrell supporters (aka rational human beings) than a not guilty verdict. But we need to properly analyze a group of citizens who can look at Kerrick’s “injuries” juxtaposed to Jonathan’s fatal wounds, and NOT collectively see excessive force. How? Why?

So today, Charlotte aches. Tomorrow, we will ache. But we will keep going. The protection of people, especially persons of color, from being killed unnecessarily by the state, is of monumental importance .

No matter what, we know the truth and we know that the killing of Mr. Ferrell was egregious. We hope that justice will eventually be served, but we must not solely focus on prosecuting killer cops. We have to take preventative measures. We need to change: training, hierarchies of life, hearts and minds, and institutions, all of which perpetuate this deadly trend of police abuse and disproportionate black death. So while we don’t yet have justice, we are changed forever from this process. Through this ordeal, Ferrell has helped us realize the atrocities that can happen in our own back yard; so his family should seek some comfort in knowing that this young man will forever leave a mark on the fabric of moral righteousness from sea to shining sea. Rest in Power Jonathan.

I was born on January 13, 1990. I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. I moved up north and attended the University of CT from 2008 to 2012. I currently also work at a law firm in Uptown Charlotte and have been helping with this organization entitled the National Independent Voter Coalition. My interests include: Politics (obviously), Basketball (playing and watching) and watching almost any sport, movies, reading, the law, human rights, entertainment, mostly Angelina Jolie and Beyonce. I am fun, caring, passionate, intelligent, and unique!