A North Carolina policeman has been detained after shooting dead an unarmed African-American man, who was trying to get help following a car crash.
On Saturday morning, three police officers in Charlotte, NC responded to a 911 call from a woman, who said that an unknown male was knocking on the door of her house, the local media reports.
When the patrol arrived at the scene, the man – later identified as Jonathan Farrell, 24 – rushed at the officers, making them believe that he may be dangerous.
The policemen tried to neutralize the suspect with a tazer, but when it didn’t work out, one of them used his gun, firing several shots.
Farrell died of his wounds on sight. The body search revealed that he had no weapon on him.
Several hours later a wrecked car belonging to the deceased man was discovered at a nearby embankment.
The crash was serious as Farrell had to climb out of the back window of the vehicle, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief, Rodney Monroe, said.
Monroe stressed at a news conference that he didn’t think that the victim was trying to rob the woman, who called the police.
“I don’t believe threats were made,” the law enforcement chief is cited as saying by AP.