Police shooting mistrial declared
White officer killed ex-FAMU football player in 2013.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina judge declared a mistrial Friday after a jury deadlocked in the case of a white police officer charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of an unarmed black man.
Judge Robert C. Ervin declared a mistrial in the case of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer Randall Kerrick after four days of deliberations.
Ervin brought the racially diverse jury of eight women and four men back into the Mecklenburg County courtroom around 4:10 p.m. The foreman said they continued to be deadlocked 8-4, and he saw no possibility of reaching a verdict.
Defense attorney George Laughrun called for the mistrial because jurors were at an impasse after deliberating for 19 hours.
Prosecutors asked Ervin to urge the jury to continue its deliberations.
Outside the courthouse, a handful of protesters lay down in the middle of the street to protest the decision. Several shouted “No justice, no peace” at members of Kerrick’s family as they left the courthouse.
Kerrick had faced up to 11 years in prison.
Prosecutor Adren Harris said officials will review the case and consider whether to retry it.
Laughrun had no com- ment as he left the courtroom. Kerrick also said nothing as he exited, carrying a cardboard box in his left arm, with his wife following him.
Jurors made no comments to reporters as they left.
Prosecutors said nonlethal force should have been used to subdue Jonathan Ferrell, a former Florida A&M football player, in September 2013. Two officers with Kerrick didn’t fire their guns.
But Kerrick’s attorneys said the officer feared for his life when he shot and killed Ferrell while responding to a breaking-and-entering call.
The case was one of several in recent years that raised questions about police use of deadly force against black men.
Police say Ferrell wrecked his car on the morning of Sept. 14, 2013, went to a nearby house and banged on the door, apparently seeking help.