Video: Protests Break Out in Charlotte Following Mistrial in Officer-Involved Shooting Case
Protests broke out in the center city area of Charlotte over the weekend following a mistrial Friday in the case of a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer accused in the shooting death of an unarmed man.
Protests broke out in the center city area of Charlotte over the weekend following a mistrial Friday in the case of a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer accused in the shooting death of an unarmed man.
Friday night there was a fight in the Charlotte Transit Terminal, and further tension in center city, where a minor league baseball game was occuring. Some protesters lay down in the streets, banged on cars, and yelled at fans from outside the stadium gates. Others threw rocks at police, and two people were arrested for assaulting an officer.
Protests continued Saturday and one man was arrested for assaulting an officer. The officer who was reportedly assaulted was not seriously injured, WSOC TV reports.
Kerrick was tried for voluntary manslaughter for the 2013 shooting and killing of Jonathan Ferrell, 24. Ferrell wrecked his car early in the morning outside of a residential neighborhood. He walked to a house and knocked on the door. The woman inside who was home with her baby thought Ferrell was her husband returning home from work, who was knocking on the door because he had forgotten his keys. She opened the door, saw Ferrell and slammed it shut. Ferrell pounded on the door as she went back into the house to call 911. Officers believed a home invasion was under way and three cars responded to the call.
When the three officers arrived, Ferrell walked toward them. Footage from one patrol car’s in-car video system, shows Ferrell slowly approached the officers, and then began running toward them. Once out of the camera’s vantage point, Ferrell was shot 10 times by Kerrick, who repeatedly ordered the former college football player to get down.
In the trial, the jury was deadlocked with eight voting for acquittal and four voting for conviction after four days of deliberation.
An online petition, asking the attorney general not to retry the case had been signed by more than 3,000 people by Sunday. There is also a petition demanding a retrial of Officer Kerrick.
More Patrol
Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee
Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.
Read More →
When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer by Police Vehicle?
Time-sensitive injuries like penetrating trauma mean a wounded officer needs to reach a trauma center as soon as possible, and in some cases, that means transporting by police vehicle rather than waiting for EMS. What are the factors to consider in making that transport decision?
Read More →
Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
5 Things to Know When Buying Backup Lights for Patrol Use
What is the value of a backup light, and what do you need to consider when selecting one? These smaller lights are invaluable as a secondary or special-purpose light and can be easily carried in a pocket or clipped to MOLLE gear, a key chain, shirt, or a vest.
Read More →
363 Fallen Officers Honored During National Police Week
In case you missed NELOMF’s annual Candlelight Vigil, here are all 363 names of the fallen officers whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year.
Read More →
NYPD Officers Who Responded Quickly During IED Incident Recognized as NLEOMF Officers of the Month
Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro were recognized by NLEOMF as Officers of the Month for their response during an IED incident and their actions that helped prevent harm to the public.
Read More →
National Police Survey Reveals How Americans View Policing Today
A new national survey offers a comprehensive look at how Americans view policing. The study uncovers public sentiment toward local vs. federal police, communications, crisis response, the use of AI in policing, and more.
Read More →
Streamlight TLR-7 X Selected as Standard Issue Pistol Light by Canadian Federal Police
The Canadian Federal Police will be adding a new duty pistol system, which will include Streamlight’s TLR-7 X and a Glock 45 MOS 7 pistol with a red dot sight.
Read More →
Fallen Law Enforcement Officers from Across the Country to be Honored During 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13th in Washington, D.C.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) will honor 363 fallen officers who have died in the line of duty as their names are added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during the annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13.
Read More →
What Should Be in Your IFAK?
What should every officer include in an IFAK? Sydney Vail, M.D., a veteran trauma surgeon and former SWAT surgeon, explains which components are needed and which are not, and stresses training.
Read More →