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Β CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Besides the swarm of media, a small but vocal crowd waited for CMPD Officer Wes Kerrick as he left the Mecklenburg County Courthouse Wednesday. One woman yelled repeatedly, “No justice, no peace! No racist police!” Kerrick said nothing, flanked by his attorneys and deputies, before getting into a black SUV.Β Β
He is charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell. The courtroom proceedings lasted only a couple minutes, with a judge setting Kerrick’s next court date for February. “I looked at him and I kinda felt sorry. I don’t know what happened that night, but I’m asking God to be with him and help him. I know he’s grieving,” says Rev. Raymond Johnson, who traveled from Marion, N.C. to be in the courtroom Wednesday. Β Charlotte resident and Ferrell family supporter Mae Bostick also wanted to be in the courtroom and later said, “I believe that we’ll have an impartial jury and they’ll be able to do the right thing. And I pray for that.”Β
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Ferrell crashed his car September 14, 2013 and after, went to a nearby house. The woman inside called 911 after she says Ferrell tried to force his way into her home. Police were dispatched to what they were told was an attempted break-in. CMPD says when officers arrived, Ferrell advanced on them. Kerrick fired 12 shots, hitting Ferrell 10 times. Investigators later learned Ferrell was unarmed. Hours later, Kerrick was charged.
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WCCB News anchor Morgan Fogarty asked Brandy Hamilton, the woman who was yelling the chant outside the courtroom, “What makes you think, in this particular case, that Officer Kerrick had racist intentions that night?” She replied, “Because Jonathan Ferrell is a black man. He was unarmed. I wish Chief Rodney Monroe would release the camera, I believe that would really be telling.”Β
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She’s talking about dash cam video from the night of the shooting. Ferrell’s fiance, Cache Heidel, has also previously said she wants the video to be released. Wednesday outside the courthouse, she let others speak for her. One woman blocking Heidel from the media hit one news camera and yelled, “Get off my hand, don’t touch me, I’ll press charges. Get outta her face!”Β
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Kerrick is suspended without pay from the police department. His criminal trial date has not yet been determined. His civil trial is set for November 2015.
