Teen indicted in shooting of Cornelius police officer

A grand jury has indicted 16-year-old Greyson Ferrell on an attempted first-degree murder charge in the shooting of Cornelius police Lt. James Quattlebaum in Ferrell’s home May 2.

The grand jury on Monday also indicted Ferrell on charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a government officer, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, minor possessing a handgun, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ferrell has been free on bond since Saturday, jail records show.

In court documents, Ferrell claims that when officers saw him wearing a bulletproof vest and holding a shotgun, they immediately fired at him. He claims he then fell down stairs and was lying prone at the foot of the stairs when an officer began screaming at him, “I’m going to kill you,” while pointing a gun at him.

Cornelius Police Chief Bence Hoyle has said police believe Ferrell came down the stairs to ambush Quattlebaum. Quattlebaum was shot at “very close range,” Hoyle said.

Police had responded to a domestic disturbance call at the Ferrell home on Coachman’s Trace, off Washam Potts Road. Police said soon after they arrived, they were shot at and returned fire.

Quattlebaum was shot in the abdomen.

Officials credited the officer’s bulletproof vest as well as the quick actions of two colleagues on the scene with helping save Quattlebaum’s life.

This story was originally published May 13, 2015 at 3:33 PM with the headline "Teen indicted in shooting of Cornelius police officer."