Cop Accused of Killing Unarmed Black Man Resigns

Case against Randall Kerrick ended with deadlocked jury
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Oct 8, 2015 3:40 PM CDT
Cop Accused of Killing Unarmed Black Man Resigns
In this Aug. 17, 2015, file photo, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officer Randall "Wes" Kerrick sits at the defense table during his manslaughter trial in Charlotte, NC.   (Davie Hinshaw/The Charlotte Observer via AP, Pool, File)

The white Charlotte police officer whose trial in the shooting death of an unarmed black man ended with a deadlocked jury has resigned from the force and reached a settlement with the city, officials said Thursday. Randall Kerrick resigned from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department effective Oct. 2, the officials said in a statement. Kerrick will receive almost $113,000, subject to taxes and standard deductions. The city will pay just over $50,000 to the attorney who represented Kerrick in the civil suit brought against him by the family of Jonathan Ferrell. The city reached a $2.2 million settlement with Ferrell's family in May.

But the statement said Charlotte will not pay any legal expenses for Kerrick's criminal defense. The agreement, which officials said contains no admission of fault or liability, includes a release of all potential legal claims. Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter in Ferrell's death. Police say Ferrell crashed his car on the morning of Sept. 14, 2013, and went to a nearby house and banged on the door, apparently seeking help. The resident called police, and three officers responded. Investigators say one deployed his Taser without apparent effect on Ferrell before Kerrick fired 12 shots, 10 of which hit him. Kerrick testified that he repeatedly fired because Ferrell kept charging at him and he didn't think his weapon was even working. (More Randall Kerrick stories.)

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