Jeremy Mardis
Posted on 11/10/2015 10:45:06 AM PST by abb
The fiancée of the man shot by Marksville officers last week says one of the officers had been messaging her on Facebook and had come to her home, The Advocate reports.
Megan Dixon, Chris Few's fiancée, told The Advocate that Norris Greenhouse, Jr., one of two officers arrested in the shooting of Few and the shooting death of his 6-year-old son Jeremy Mardis, had been messaging her on Facebook.
Dixon said Greenhouse also stopped by Few and Dixon's house, prompting Few to tell Greenhouse that he would hurt him if Greenhouse ever came to their home again.
Greenhouse, a reserve officer with the Marksville Police Department, part-time Marksville deputy marshal, and full-time Alexandria City Marshal, was arrested Friday night, along with Derrick Stafford, a full-time Marksville police officer and part-time Marksville deputy marshal.
The two were working as marshals when they allegedly fired 18 rounds at Few and Mardis, killing Mardis and injuring Few.
Greenhouse and Stafford were booked on murder and attempted murder charges. They're being held in the Rapides Parish Jail on $1 million bonds.
I’d go with terrorism (see my post just above), and cruelty to juveniles under paragraph 1, kill or inflict great bodily harm on more than one person under paragraph 3,and Under the age of 12 under paragraph 5.
I think I could make that stick with a decent jury.
I would a lot rather prosecute this one on a capital murder charge than to try to defend it. I might be willing to plead it down to second degree murder with life without parole.
“one of two officers arrested in the shooting of Few and the shooting death of his 6-year-old son Jeremy Mardis, had been messaging her on Facebook.”
You are correct, the plot thickens. What the hell is this all about? The cop has been messaging the boys mother on facebook? The rest of the story is going to be very interesting.
Wow. White cops kill a black six year old. Crime of the Century. Oh, wait, it’s the other way around. Nevermind.
I believe it is called a “love triangle.” I’m not sure if they use that exact terminology in Avoyelles Parish, though.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoyelles_Parish,_Louisiana
“The problem is specific intent.”
If he unloaded a pistol at the guy, the intent was there; the problem was his aim was off.
THAT was worth killing someone over? How far out in the woods is this burg?
That’s scary.
But that is attempt 2nd degree, because the guy is still alive, right? The murdered victim is the six year old. If there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the child was a target, then you have 1st degree.
“I might be willing to plead it down to second degree murder with life without parole.”
That is probably what will happen, depending on the tape. Both the paragraphs you cite, which are the relevant ones, require intent. If there is evidence they deliberately shot at the child, nd it is properly prosecuted, they are toast.
I know this parish. Do not be surprised if the charge ends up as negligent homicide.
It all depends on the tape. The Colonel described it as the worst he has ever seen. The man is highly respected and experienced. No shrinking violet there. The evidence must be damning.
But... One of the offenders is hooked up with the local DA’s office. Yes, they have recused themselves. That doesn’t mean strings can’t be pulled, or favors traded. You’d have to know the parish. It spawned former Governor Edwin Edwards. Make of that what you will. There are some very good people there, but they are diamonds in a dungheap.
“How far out in the woods is this burg?”
Quite a way. The economy is based around a tribal casino. There are some serious questions as to whether the tribe is legit, or just a construct. Lots of drug offenses. Lots of tweakers. Lots of people barely getting by. Overbearing, baronial law enforcement, used to pushing people around who cannot push back. Lots of racial tension, and the whites are very submissive, almost cringing.
It is an OK place to stop for gas during the day.
Shooter’s daddy being an Assistant DA would probably make a lesser event go away. I’m not sure that the usual favors will apply in a case with this much visibility.
If the father had been killed and the son wounded, the event might have been manageable. But no one’s going to want to stand too close to this one with the State Police having already staked out a strong position.
I hate having to travel through that place.
They’ll fry. Way too much media exposure to do a typical courtroom shuffle on this one. Every reporter in the state is looking at this one. Every once in a while, some corruption is reported on, when they’re so motivated. Looks to me like the reporters are motivated.
FBI assisting LSP in investigation of deadly officer-involved shooting of 6-year-old
Posted: Nov 10, 2015 1:37 PM CST
Updated: Nov 10, 2015 1:37 PM CST
By Amber Stegall
The FBI is now assisting the Louisiana State Police in the investigation into the officer-involved shooting that killed a 6-year-old and left the child’s father in critical condition. The shooting happened on Tuesday, November 3 around 9:30 p.m.
“This is an ongoing investigation with LSP as the lead investigative agency. LSP, FBI, USAO, and DOJ Civil Rights Division are in constant communication regarding this matter,” said Craig Betbeze with the FBI New Orleans Division.
Marksville Police officers and Ward 2 City Marshal Deputies 32-year-old Derrick Stafford and 23-year-old Norris Greenhouse Jr. are currently accused of shooting and killing 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis, and critically wounding his father Chris Few after a car chase. The officers were moonlighting for the Ward 2 City Marshal’s Office at the time of the shooting.
The bonds for Stafford and Greenhouse have been set at $1 million a piece. In additional to criminal charges, the officers could face some civil rights violations.
According to Chris Few’s attorney Mark Jeansonne, body camera video shows Few had his hands in the air and did not pose a threat before police opened fire last week.
“We took some of the body cam footage. I’m not gonna talk about it, but I’m gonna tell you this. It is the most disturbing thing I’ve seen and I will leave it at that,” said Col. Mike Edmonson at a news conference.
Edmonson, the head of the Louisiana State Police, said that 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis “didn’t deserve to die like that.” He did not go into specific details of the investigation, saying that nothing was more important than “the integrity of the case.”
It’s still unclear what led to the initial car chase between four city marshal deputies, including Stafford and Greenhouse, and Chris Few. Few was driving a vehicle with his 6 year old son, Jeremy Mardis, inside. Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says “We believe (Few and the officers) met each other, knew each other. Certainly as this progresses, we’ll find out more and more information. But I think in a town like this, everyone knows each other.”
CBS News is quoting sources as saying investigators are exploring whether one of the arrested deputies had a “personal grudge” against Christoper Few.
When the chase ended, with Few and his son still in the vehicle, investigators say the officers opened fire. Few was critically injured. Jeremy, who police say was hit at least five times, was buckled in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
Few was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Few’s attorney says he is improving, but he has not been told about his son’s death.
Stafford and Greenhouse both face charges of second degree murder, for the death of Mardis; and attempted second degree murder in the shooting of Chris Few. The Louisiana Attorney General’s office will handle the prosecution of the two officers in the Marksville shooting, according to the spokesman for the AG’s office.
Both Norris and Stafford are also ordered to house arrest with electronic monitoring, to surrender all service firearms, and to surrender all badges and/or police officer certifications. Both officers have been moved to the Rapides Parish Detention Center. Because they are officers, it is standard procedure that they be put in isolation while they are in custody.
Posted: Nov 10, 2015 3:25 PM CST
Updated: Nov 10, 2015 3:26 PM CST
Public records requests denied; FBI “in constant communication” on Marksville case
The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Marksville Police Department have denied public records requests filed by KATC regarding the investigation of Marksville Marshals Derrick Stafford and Norris Greenhouse Jr.
The officers have been booked on state charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. The Louisiana State Police is leading the investigation, and the state attorney general’s office is prosecuting the case.
Greenhouse and Stafford are accused of fatally shooting 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis and wounding his father, Chris Few, last Tuesday. A lawyer for Few said a police body camera recorded the father with his hands up and posing no threat as police fired into his car.
KATC and several other media outlets have requested copies of internal investigations, complaints, employment histories, personnel records and more from multiple law enforcement organizations.
The sheriff’s office and the police departments are citing the gag ordered issued by a judge as the reason for denying the records requests. District Judge William Bennett issued the gag order after Few’s lawyer told The Associated Press about events that happened yesterday in the closed-door bond hearing for Stafford and Greenhouse.
An FBI spokesman says federal authorities are in “constant communication” with state investigators about last week’s fatal shooting of a 6-year-old boy by law enforcement officers in a central Louisiana city.
The officers, 32-year-old Derrick Stafford and 23-year-old Norris Greenhouse Jr., have been booked on state charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. The Louisiana State Police is leading the investigation, and the state attorney general’s office is prosecuting the case.
Craig Betbeze, a spokesman for the FBI’s New Orleans division, said in an email Tuesday to The Associated Press that he can’t elaborate on why the FBI and Justice Department’s civil rights division have been communicating with the State Police about the case.
Col. Mike Edmonson said the State Police routinely shares case information with the FBI and will in this case, too.
I would say pumping 12 rounds into an unarmed man with his hands up is a specific attempt to kill him, I do believe that the only case is Murder 1.
Hey, Norris, was she impressed? Maybe sometime in the next 40 years, she can write to you and tell you how she feels about your courting techniques.
http://theadvocate.com/news/police/13941619-32/father-of-marksville-officer-putting
Father of Marksville officer accused of murdering 6-year-old putting together $1M in land to help son post bond
Nov. 10, 2015; 5:54 p.m.
by maya lau
mlau@theadvocate.com
The father of one of the Marksville officers accused of shooting and killing a boy last week is arranging to put up $1 million worth of his land for his son’s release from jail, an official said.
Avoyelles Parish Sheriff Doug Anderson said Norris Greenhouse Sr. is using land in that parish and in East Baton Rouge Parish to secure a property bond for his son, Norris Greenhouse Jr., 23, who was arrested Friday on murder and attempted murder counts in the shooting that injured Chris Few, 25, and killed Few’s 6-year-old son, Jeremy Mardis.
No bail arrangements have been made for Derrick Stafford, 32, the other officer facing the same counts in the shooting, Anderson said.
The soonest Norris Greenhouse Jr. could be released is Thursday, because government offices are closed Wednesday for Veterans Day, Anderson said.
On Monday, 12th Judicial District Court Judge William J. Bennett set bail for the two officers at $1 million in cash or property. The lawmen also would be subject to home incarceration via electronic monitoring and would have to surrender their badges and weapons if they post bail. Anderson said as part of the bond plan, the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office would take out a mortgage on Norris Greenhouse Sr.’s property.
If the officer fails to show up at court, “I can come back and sell the land at sheriff’s sale and go hunt this boy,†Anderson said.
Both officers, who were moonlighting for the Marksville Ward 2 marshal at the time of the shooting, are being held at the Rapides Parish Detention Center, but bond is being handled through the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The FBI is playing a role in Louisiana State Police’s investigation into the shooting, said FBI spokesman Craig Betbeze.
“This is an ongoing investigation with LSP as the lead investigative agency. LSP, FBI, USAO, and DOJ Civil Rights Division are in constant communication regarding this matter,†he said in an email.
The District Attorney’s Office in Avoyelles Parish has recused itself from the case, noting that Norris Greenhouse Sr. is an assistant district attorney with the office. The state Attorney General’s Office will handle the prosecution.
Meantime, several public records requests were denied Tuesday due to Bennett’s gag order issued Monday forbidding the attorneys, the accused, the victims, the witnesses and law enforcement to talk to the media about the case. The prohibition came shortly after Few’s attorney, Mark Jeansonne, told a reporter his client had his hands up when police fired.
Some officials interpreted the ban as extending to information not directly related to the Marksville shooting case. Marksville Police Chief Elster Smith denied a query by The Advocate for all of the department’s policies, citing the gag ruling.
The order says it aims to protect the defendants’ right to a fair trial. “All parties to this proceeding and their attorneys, including any potential witnesses, victims and/or their attorneys are hereby prohibited, directly or indirectly or through any third parties, from providing any information and/or evidence and/or alleged evidence to the press,†the ruling says.
State Police refused to release the warrants in the case to multiple media outlets with requests for the public records pending since last week. Several other officials said they could not discuss topics related to Marksville, citing the gag order, even if the questions had nothing to do with the criminal cases of Stafford and Norris Greenhouse Jr.
Advocate staff writer Bryn Stole contributed to this report.
Did that gag order that was issued by some “judge” get lifted?
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