CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Mecklenburg County Grand Jury declined to indict Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Randall Kerrick on charges of voluntary manslaughter in the September 14 shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell.
Attorney General Roy Cooper released this statement:
βToday, our prosecutors learned that the grand jury that considered the indictment on charges of voluntary manslaughter was less than a full panel.Β 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.β
Prosecutors from Cooperβs office sought the indictment based on an investigation conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation as well as a separate investigation conducted by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Special Prosecutors in the Attorney Generalβs Office agreed to handle the case at the request of the Mecklenburg County District Attorney.Β The Attorney Generalβs Special Prosecutions Section is available to all District Attorneys in the state when there is a conflict of interest or when there are other issues that prevent a District Attorney from handling a case.
Investigators say Kerrick shot Jonathan Ferrell 10 times in east Charlotte last September.Β It was later determined that Ferrell was unarmed and had been involved in a traffic accident near the area of the shooting.Β
Police were called to the area after Ferrell knocked on the door of a home in a neighborhood near the crash scene.Β Ferrell’s family attorney says he was looking for help.
Ferrell’s family has already filed a lawsuit against the city of Charlotte, the county, Officer Kerrick and Police Chief Rodney Monroe.Β
Kerrick has been charged with voluntary manslaughter.Β If convicted, he could face up to 11 years in prison.
