A judge declared a mistrial on Friday, after a jury remained deadlocked in the trial of former North Carolina officer Randall Kerrick.
Kerrick, a white police officer, was on trial for manslaughter in the death of former Florida A&M football player Jonathan Ferrell, who was killed in 2013.
The jury consisted of eight women and four men, seven of whom were White, three were Black, and two were Latino/Latina, according to NBC. Initially, the 12-member jury deadlocked 7-5 and 8-4 on the succeeding three votes.
Kerrick, who has since been relieved of duty, shot Ferrell 12 times after Ferrell, who was involved in a severe car accident, knocked on a woman’s door looking for help. The woman, Sara McCartney, refused to help Ferrell and instead called police claiming that someone was trying to break in.
As per usual, Kerrick claimed that Ferrell was trying to take his gun and that he feared for his life, after dash-cam footage showed him [Ferrell] approaching police, then trying to run around them.
Prosecutors said non-lethal force should have been used to subdue Ferrell.
Ferrell’s family said they will continue to fight for justice for their son.
