DA Rules NC Trooper’s Shooting of Deaf Motorist After High-Speed Pursuit Justified

The Mecklenburg County (NC) district attorney has decided not to bring charges against a state trooper who fatally shot a deaf driver in Charlotte after a high-speed chase.

The Mecklenburg County (NC) district attorney has decided not to bring charges against a state trooper who fatally shot a deaf driver in Charlotte after a high-speed chase.

District Attorney Andrew Murray announced Monday that Trooper Jermaine Saunders had legal justification to fire the fatal shot that killed Daniel Harris not far from his north Charlotte home in August.

Murray’s findings were included in a 122-page report that included extensive details on the chase and other events leading up to Harris’ killing, including a statement that Harris ran at the trooper with a metal object in his hand. Saunders told investigators he thought Harris was carrying a weapon. It turned out to be a caribiner key ring, the Charlotte Observer reports.

“Given the choices faced by Trooper Saunders, the compressed window of time in which he had to evaluate the situation and act, along with the stress of the situation, I have concluded it was not unreasonable for Trooper Saunders to fire his weapon,” Murray wrote. “Therefore, no charges will be filed against Trooper Saunders in this case.”

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