Charlotte police officer charged with manslaughter after shooting unarmed man

Charlotte, N.C., police say an officer who shot and killed an unarmed man has been charged with voluntary manslaughter.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe said at a news conference that Officer Randall Kerrick had turned himself in.

The man shot, identified as 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell, had apparently been in a car wreck and was seeking help by knocking on the door of a house in the city's east side early Saturday morning, according to police. The woman who lived there opened the door, thinking the knock came from her husband. When she realized it wasn't him, she called 911.

When officers arrived, they found Ferrell a short distance from the home, and he matched a description given by the homeowner, police said.

The statement said officers approached Ferrell to investigate the original call. Ferrell ran toward the officers and was hit with a Taser. Ferrell continued to run toward police when Ofc. Randall Kerrick fired his weapon, hitting Ferrell several times. Ferrell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said they think a wrecked car discovered down an embankment in nearby woods may have been driven by Ferrell, and detectives are trying to find out if he was trying to get help from the resident who called 911.

Chief Rodney Monroe told a news conference that he didn't think Ferrell was trying to rob the woman.

"I don't believe threats were made," the chief said.

Monroe also said he had spoken with Kerrick.

"He is pretty shook up," the chief said. "He's devastated."

Kerrick, has been with Charlotte-Mecklenburg police since April 2011. Two other officers at the scene have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a probe into the shooting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.