Jurors are to hear closing arguments on Tuesday as Police Officer Randall Kerrick stands trial over the death of a black man, Jonathan Ferrell.
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, 29 year-old Randall Kerrick is charged with volutary manslaughter in connection with the death of an unarmed black man. A police training expert witness said Kerrick was justified in using deadly force when he shot Ferrell while responding to a breaking and entering call.
Expert and instructor at the North Carolina Justice Academy, Dave Cloutier, said Kerrick was responding to a potentially dangerous 911 call of a report or a man breaking into a woman's house.
Cloutier said once Ferrell "began running toward officer Kerrick, it would aggravate the situation". He said based on all the evidence he examined, the shooting was justified.
Police captain Mike Campagna testified last week the shooting violated department policy. He said nonlethal force should have been used to subdue Ferrell after he wrecked his car and knocked on the door of a house apparently seeking help. The woman in the house called police.
One of three officers at the scene, Officer Adam Neal testified he never considered pulling a weapon that night and instead viewed the situation as one that would require physical force to restrain the subject. Neal also testified that he did not see Kerrick until he had already fired several shots and was lying in a ditch with Ferrell at his feet.
On the video, Neal said when he arrived at the scene Ferrell was already advancing toward officers. At that point, Neal said he thought the encounter was "going to be tough".
The trial continues.
http://witnessdirectory.com/searchresults.php?keyword=Police
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadly_force
