On Tuesday, a partial grand jury in North Carolina declined
to indict the former Charlotte police officer who shot and killed unarmed FAMU
alumnus Jonathan Ferrell nearly four months ago.
According to NBC News, “in a handwritten note, Mecklenburg
County grand jurors said there wasn't enough evidence to indict Officer Randall
Kerrick, 28, for voluntary manslaughter and asked the state attorney general's
to refile the case with lesser charges.”
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper released a
statement confirming that he will resubmit charges against Kerrick to a full
grand jury.
“Today, our prosecutors learned that the grand jury that
considered the indictment on charges of voluntary manslaughter was less than a
full panel. It would be in the best interest of justice to resubmit this case
to a full grand jury, which we plan to do as soon as possible,” Cooper said.
Ferrell crashed his car late in the early hours of Saturday
morning in Charlotte and then sought help by knocking on the door of a nearby
house. The homeowner, Sarah McCartney, said she feared for her safety when she
heard the noise.
McCartney called 9-1-1. When three police officers arrived,
Ferrell ran in their direction. After one officer unsuccessfully attempted to
use a Taser on Ferrell, Kerrick began firing his gun.
Ferrell died after ten rounds hit his body.