Police officer who 'shot dead unarmed man who was seeking help after car wreck' is charged with manslaughter

A North Carolina police officer who authorities say fatally shot an unarmed man as he sought assistance after he crashed his vehicle early Saturday moing has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the man's death.

Authorities in Charlotte say former Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University football player Jonathan Ferrell appears to have crashed his car down an embankment about 2:30 a.m. and then knocked on the door of a nearby residence shortly after looking for help.

The homeowner opened the door thinking it was her husband. When she realized it was 24-year-old Ferrell - a stranger - she closed the door and called 911.

'Killer': Authorities say Officer Randall Kerrick shot an unarmed man who may have needed help after an auto accident

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 Officer Randall Kerrick fired his weapon, hitting Ferrell several times. Ferrell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Victim: 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell may have been seeking help when he was shot by police

After discovering the wrecked vehicles, authorities determined that Ferrell was potentially seeking help from the homeowner when she called 911.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe said the accident was serious and Ferrell would have been forced to climb out of the back window of the vehicle. He apparently walked to the nearest house and banged on the door.

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.

Help: Authorities believe Ferrell knocked on this door looking for help. The homeowner called 911

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

Kerrick has been with Charlotte-Mecklenburg police since April 2011.

Monroe said at a news conference that Kerrick was in custody. Police say he was charged with voluntary manslaughter after an investigation found that the shooting was excessive.

Two other officers at the scene have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a probe into the shooting.