September 2013

Jonathan Ferrell, 24, a former Florida A&M football player, crashed his car in Charlotte, North Carolina, and walked to a nearby home seeking help. The homeowner called police. Officer Randall Kerrick shot Ferrell ten times, killing him. Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter; his trial ended in a hung jury in 2015 and charges were later dropped.

Jonathan Ferrell, 24, a former FAMU football player, crashed his car in Charlotte, NC, and knocked on a nearby home seeking help. The homeowner called 911 reporting a break-in. When police arrived, Ferrell ran toward them; officer Randall Kerrick shot him 10 times, hitting him 7 times. Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter — a rare occurrence for an officer. His trial ended in a hung jury in 2015; charges were dropped. The case highlighted how seeking help while Black could be perceived as a threat and how rarely charges against officers resulted in conviction.