MARKSVILLE, La. – Police body camera video shows the father of a 6-year-old autistic boy had his hands up and posed no threat as police opened fire, severely wounding the motorist and killing the boy, the man’s lawyer said Monday.
“This was not a threatening situation for the police,” said Mark Jeansonne (ZHAN’-sawn), the attorney for Chris Few, who remained hospitalized, missing the family’s funeral for 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis.
Jeansonne spoke with The Associated Press after a closed hearing for the two marshals. He said the judge ordered both held on $1 million bond. Derrick Stafford, 32, of Mansura and Norris Greenhouse Jr., 23, of Marksville each is charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
READ MORE: 2 Louisiana police officers arrested, accused in autistic boy’s shooting death
The lawyer said he still hasn’t seen the video, but its contents were described to the judge during the hearing.
He also said that while Few’s condition is improving, he has not yet been told that his son died at the scene.
State police declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Also Monday, District Attorney Charles A. Riddle recused himself from the case, because one of his top assistant prosecutors is the father of Greenhouse. The case is “not good for any of us,” Riddle said.
The state attorney general’s officer will take over the prosecution.
Louisiana State Police announced late Friday that they had arrested the two marshals. The case raised questions almost immediately. Initial reports suggested the marshals were serving a warrant on Few when the shooting happened, but Louisiana’s state police chief, Col. Mike Edmonson, said there was no evidence a warrant was issued, and no gun was found on the scene.
Stafford is a full-time lieutenant with the Marksville Police Department; Greenhouse is a full-time city marshal. Both were working part time as deputy marshals in Marksville’s Ward 2 Tuesday when they allegedly opened fire on Few’s car.
Investigators have been reviewing forensics evidence, 911 calls and body camera footage. They have not released the footage or the calls, but Edmonson described the body camera footage at a news conference Friday as “the most disturbing thing I’ve seen.” He added that the boy had died while still buckled into his seat in the car.
Mardis was to be buried Monday in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He had recently moved from Hattiesburg to Louisiana.
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