WELL, SHOOT... JUST SHOOT

[HairOfTheDog]

This is about 30 miles from me. Change your opinions any now?

http://www.wsoctv.com/videos/news/dash-c...k_2014_sfp

Start watching at the 7:30 mark

It doesn't change my opinion, Tammy. But, when I saw the video for the first time yesterday it surprised me how calmly Ferrell was approaching when he was targeted with the taser. I do wish the video were clearer and we could see what happened after Ferrell ran.




I think Officer Kerrick (left) deserved to be indicted and the jury should decide whether shooting Jonathan Ferrell (right) 10 times was warranted or not.

There were a lot of things that officers unfortunately didn't know or were misinformed about when they arrived on the scene.

-They did not know that Ferrell had just been in a car accident (his BAL was only .05 and no traces of drugs in his system) and had no cell phone.

-They were told by 911 dispatch that they were responding to a B&E, though Ferrell never attempted to break into the house and was instead pounding and screaming for help at the nearest house to the accident.

-They did not know that Ferrell was carrying no weapons of any kind.

Ferrell didn't flee the area, he stayed there until officers arrived and then slowly/calmly walked towards them. I think Ferrell was disoriented from the accident and got very scared when the taser lights hit his chest. I don't think Ferrell appeared threatening or intimidating at all when he was targeted with the taser.

I do not believe that the unarmed man needed to be pumped with bullets to be contained by 3 officers.

But, I think Kerrick will probably be acquitted, especially having heard the testimony of Officer Neal, who was on the scene. I don't know whether I believe Neal in full, but his testimony really helps Kerrick. It's their narrative and what they claim was in their minds, versus the prosecution's contentions (and the prosecutors obviously weren't there). The jury may well believe that Kerrick feared for his life and was justified when he shot Jonathan Ferrell to death.

The 12-member jury has two people who are Latino, three African-American and seven white. Eight are women and four are men. The alternate jurors are all white, and consist of one man and three women.

If convicted, Kerrick faces three to 11 years in prison. He has been on unpaid suspension since the shooting in 2013.

Trial updates: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/lo...24984.html