Friday, October 18, 2013

‘Unconscious bias’ led to police shooting of ex-FAMU football player in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  -- A former Florida A&M football player fatally shot by police in Charlotte, North Carolina, was clearly seeking help after a car wreck — and video from the squad car’s dashboard camera will prove it, an attorney for the man’s family said Wednesday.

Officer Randall Kerrick shot the unarmed Jonathan Ferrell, 24, last month after a woman — home alone with her 1-year-old child — called 911 and reported that someone was trying to break down her front door.

Ferrell had wrecked his car down the street and had simply gone to the nearest home seeking help, family attorney Chris Chestnut said.

“I completely understand her situation. She’s at home by herself, 2 in the morning, with a baby. I completely understand that she was frightened,” Chestnut said. “But had she taken the time to just speak through the door and find out what was going on, rather than say, ‘He’s trying to rob me’ or ‘He’s trying to beat down the door,’ I think she would’ve had a different understanding.”

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