African-American Caucus Wants Kerrick Retrial

The state's attorney general is being urged to retry Randall Kerrick.  The Charlotte police officer was charged in the shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell.

African-American Caucus President Willie Fleming urged Cooper to reconsider Friday evening, hours after Cooper's office announced the decision to dismiss a voluntary manslaughter charge against Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Randall Kerrick.  Some members of the North Carolina Democratic Party say there's no certainty that jurors would deadlock again.

Fleming says Charlotte residents deserve the respect of prosecutors to seek a verdict of guilty or innocence, rather than last week's mistrial. Eight of the 12 jurors had backed Kerrick's acquittal. Fleming also said efforts at justice must continue in light of recent police shootings and violence toward black Americans.

Cooper is preparing to run for the Democratic nomination for governor next year.