ONLY ON WCCB: Family of Danquirs Franklin Speaking Publicly For The First Time

CHARLOTTE, NC. — The family of a man shot and killed by a CMPD officer is speaking publicly for the first time. As they reflect on what they’re thankful for this year, they want to honor Danquirs Franklin’s memory.

For eight months, Franklin’s mother, Deborah, and his cousins have kept quiet.  Until now, as WCCB Charlotte’s Alexandra Elich sat down with them.

Their grief was palpable. A mother no longer has her son, and three young children are growing up without their father.

“We hope that when his children see this, when they’re old enough to ask those questions, that they see that this family really wanted to portray him and his character well. Hopefully his love for them shines through,” says Franklin’s cousin Kinard Barnett.

CMPD officer Wende Kerl shot Franklin on March 25th. It  happened in the Burger King parking lot on Beatties Ford Road, prompting heated protests and community conversations with Chief Kerr Putney about the department’s use of force policy and how officers are trained in deescalation.

Franklin’s family says the public did not get to know who Danquirs was.

“The public didn’t see that Danquirs was a good dad. They didn’t see that he respected authority, they didn’t see that he loved basketball.”

Franklin’s family members say their faith keeps them moving forward.

“Knowing his relationship with the Lord. That really anchored us through. It was numbing when we found it out. Devastating,” says Franklin’s cousin James Barnett.

Weeks after the shooting, the DA decided CMPD would no longer investigate itself after an officer-involved shooting. District Attorney Spencer Merriweather did not charge Officer Wende Kerl. She is back on full duty, but not in the field and not formally disciplined by CMPD.

Franklin’s family wouldn’t comment on her return to full duty, the DA’s decision or whether they plan to take civil action, advice given to them by their attorney.