CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The state rested its case in the trial of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Wes Kerrick Tuesday afternoon. They rested after questioning CMPD Captain Mike Campagna.
Campagna reviewed the details of Officer Kerrick’s actions on the night he fatally shot Jonathan Ferell, who was unarmed, and said the shooting was not consistent with department policy.
Capt. Campagna made the statement during his second day of testimony Tuesday in Kerrick’s voluntary manslaughter trial.
Campagna said he reviewed the dashcam video as well as Kerrick’s statement and compared them with guidelines established by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. He said non-deadly force should have been used to subdue Ferrell, who was shot and killed after he wrecked his car and knocked on the door of a house apparently seeking help. The person in the house called police.
Kerrick was one of three officers who responded to the call and the only one who used his gun when Ferrell approached them. Investigators say he fired 12 shots. Ten of them hit Ferrell.
Defense attorneys began their cross examination of Campagna before the lunch recess. They pointed out that an officer in a training video instructed students that if one officer draws his Taser, another officer on the scene should draw their weapon.
An officer fired a Taser at Ferrell before Kerrick fired his weapon, but the Taser missed Ferrell.
The defense argued for dismissal Tuesday afternoon arguing the state did not prove voluntary manslaughter charges beyond reasonable doubt. Judge Erwin denied the motion.
