Disturbing footage has been released of the police shooting that left a 6-year-old autistic boy dead in Louisiana late last year.
The graphic video was released Wednesday as part of the murder case against two men working as police marshals in the town of Marksville last November, when prosecutors say excessive force led to the death of Jeremy Mardis.
The officers, Norris J. Greenhouse Jr. and Derrick Stafford, were attempting to arrest his father, who was allegedly fleeing as they attempted to serve him a warrant.
Jeremy was beside his father, Chris Few, in the vehicle when shots were fired.
The footage appears to show an officer at the scene check the boy for a pulse as his father is slumped over, bleeding on the ground.
"I never saw a kid in the car, man," Stafford said. "I never saw a kid, bro."
About seven minutes into the encounter, an officer found the boy had a faint pulse. Several minutes after that, paramedics arrived to find the boy was dead, according to the Associated Press.
Avoyelles Parish investigators initially said the marshals were chasing Few because of an outstanding warrant. However, the clerk of court, the district attorney’s office, the Marksville Police Department and city court and did not find any in his name, according to an investigation by WAFB.
Attorneys for the former cops argue the Greenhouse and Stafford acted in self-defense and claim Few rammed into a deputy’s vehicle before they fired.
Attorneys for the defense also claim there is no evidence in the footage that shows they fired after Few raised his hands.
While noting that the footage doesn't show the
entire chase, District Court Judge William Bennett also noted that Few's
car is never seen posing a threat to the officers.
"That car was not being used as a deadly weapon at
that time," Bennett said. "I dare say it was not even close to being
used as a deadly weapon at that time."
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