CHARLOTTE, NC – Panthers fans were greeted by protesters as they made their way to Saturday night’s game at Bank of America Stadium.
“Even though it’s civil disobedience, they’re abiding by the law, so we expect those to continue,” says CMPD Chief Kerr Putney.
He says officers are keeping a close eye around the continuing demonstrations. “On foot, bicycles, motorcycles, and cars,” Putney says.
We saw lots of extra security around Saturday night’s game. It’s the second day of Uptown marches after Friday’s mistrial in the voluntary manslaughter case of CMPD Officer Wes Kerrick.
And now, we’re hearing strong opinions from one of the 12 jurors who heard the case.
“There’s a reason to to be shot 10 times, even if I was walking towards you, or running,” says juror Moses Wilson.
Wilson is one of four jurors who wanted to find Kerrick guilty – the other eight stuck with their belief that he was innocent.
He says deliberations were heated and contentious at times – and believes many of the arguments about Ferrell’s size and behavior were biased.
“I thought all those aspects were racist. And that Jonathan Ferrell was on trial by the defense,” he says.
Wilson says five weeks on the jury took an emotional toll on him and others. In the end he says there was no way opinions were going to change.
“You do your duty up until the last second, until it becomes apparent, becomes apparent that no matter what you do, those that believe certain things will believe it, and those that believe other things will believe it. And now you’re locked,” he explains.
