State releases autopsy, toxicology report in fatal officer shooting of Jonathan Ferrell

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The state released the autopsy and toxicology reports of Jonathan Akeen Pierre Ferrell on Friday afternoon.

Ferrell was fatally shot by a Charlotte Mecklenburg police officer in early September.

The autopsy report says Ferrell died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds of the chest.

WEB EXTRA: Click here to view the full autopsy report.

The toxicology report shows Ferrell had caffeine, nicotine and ethanol is his system.

Randall Kerrick, the officer who shot Ferrell 10 times, is charged with voluntary manslaughter and is on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe says Jonathan Ferrell was shot and killed on Saturday September 14 by CMPD officer Randall Kerrick.

Investigators told WBTV that Officer Kerrick fired his weapon 12 times and struck Ferrell 10 times, resulting in his death.

Kerrick's attorney, George Laughrun spoke to the media after viewing the dash cam video. The video has not been made public.

"The officers gave several verbal commands to 'get on the ground, get on the ground', at least three commands," he said. "He continued approaching the officers, advancing toward them."

Laughrun said the video shows Ferrell never put his hands up.

"His hands were not up in the air," he recalled. "At one time, one of his hands was behind his back."

When WBTV spoke to the Ferrell family attorney Chris Chestnut on Tuesday, his recount of that dash cam video focused on the sequence of gunfire.

"No, he didn't panic," he said. "He knew what he was doing. He shot, paused, shot again. Paused, shot again -- he killed."

Chestnut also pointed out that Ferrell was clearly outnumbered that night.

"It was three on 1," he said. "It's three on one. These are trained officers, trained in defensive tactics. Three to one, no need to shoot."

Chesnut said last week it wouldn't matter what the toxicology report would show. He said Officer Kerrick didn't know Ferrell's state and didn't take the time to ask before he shot him.

After seeing the report, Chesnut told WBTV it "Confirms that this is murder."

Chesnut added, "Officer shot at a downward angle front to back."