The family and loved ones of Jonathan Ferrell hope that justice will be served in some capacity with their latest move.
Ferrell’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several parties connected to his death. The 24-year-old was shot and killed in Charlotte, NC by police after looking for help after a car crash in September. A new autopsy revealed that the 10 bullets that struck Ferrell were shot ‘within a downward trajectory,’ proving that the former FAMU football player was on his knees when he was killed.
“He was only seeking help,” Ferrell’s mother, Georgia, said during a press-conference on Tuesday morning, a day after the lawsuit was filed in North Carolina Superior Court. “I don’t know if it will bring peace,” she said of the lawsuit, “but I pray that they don’t kill no one else’s child.”
The lawsuit names suspect Randall Kerrick, Police Chief Rodney Monroe, and the city. Kerrick was arrested after the shooting and charged with voluntary manslaughter. The family is demanding that police hand over the evidence and records that have been withheld.
Kerrick has been charged with felony voluntary manslaughter, meaning he is accused of either using excessive force in self-defense or shooting Ferrell without the intent to kill him. He is free on $50,000 bond.
Ferrell’s fiancée spoke to reporters last year about the shooting, and has forgiven Kerrick for his actions.
“I’ve forgiven him,” she said in an interview with NBC News. “I’m not hateful. I understand it. He was scared. It just hurts. Everything went wrong that evening that could possibly go wrong,” she said, choking back tears.
It was also revealed that Ferrell wasn’t a threat to the officers, he was unarmed and had no drugs or alcohol in his system.
Christopher Chestnut, one of the family’s attorneys, spoke at a press conference regarding the wrongful death suit.
“We have unmitigated respect for law enforcement,” Chestnut said during Tuesday’s press conference. “But we also have an unrelenting, passionate duty to root out cowards who use a badge as an excuse for cold blooded murder.”
Our prayers go out to the Ferrell family and Jonathan’s fiancée.
SOURCE: MSNBC, CNN | PHOTO CREDIT: Handout
