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.