Judge Releases Body Cam Footage Of Louisiana Cops Fatal Shooting Of 6-Year Old Jeremy Mardis

Body camera footage has been released from the night of a fatal officer-involved shooting in Marksville that resulted in the death of a 6-year-old boy and left his father critically wounded.
The highly controversial case has remained sealed, but during a pretrial hearing Wednesday, Judge William Bennett ruled that the footage can be released to the public.
The judge also ruled that the two officers involved and charged in the case, Norris Greenhouse Jr. and Derrick Stafford, will have separate trials after denying a motion filed by the defense.
The shooting happened Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015 around 9:30 p.m. During the hearing prosecutors argued that as the shooting began, Chris Few, the father of the slain child Jeremy Mardis, can be seen with his hands raised.
Parish investigators initially said marshals were chasing Few because of an outstanding warrant. However, WAFB checked with the Clerk of Court, the District Attorney's Office, Marksville Police Department and City Court and did not find any outstanding warrants. Col. Mike Edmonson said so far, their investigation shows the same.
The shooting was captured by Marksville Police officer Sgt. Kenneth Parnell who said he responded to the pursuit after hearing the call on the radio.
The first few minutes of video released has no audio, so it’s not clear when the first shots are fired. The video does show Few with his hands up and out of the vehicle. When sound does kick in, it is deafening gunfire and sirens.
As the video continues, Parnell can be heard calling in the shooting to dispatch, but it takes about two minutes for anyone to approach the SUV. Another officer can be heard telling Few to show his hands several times.
When officers do approach, it appears they discovery Few’s 6-year-old son Jeremy.
Parnell then walks back to Greenhouse and Stafford; both men’s names are visible on their shirts. It sounds like the Parnell tells them about Jeremy, and Greenhouse appears to respond, "Don’t tell me that, bro."
It’s also at that point that other officers begin to arrive on scene, and someone asks if Few is armed. Investigators would later confirm that Few was not armed, despite conflicting early reports.
It also takes some time for officers to render aid, asking several times for gloves as Few fell from the car. Seven minutes into the video, the officer goes over to Jeremy’s lifeless body to check for a pulse.
At some point, the video again shows Stafford who asked if Few was hit. Few was injured but survived.
"Man, I didn't see a kid in the car," Greenhouse can be heard saying.
During the pretrial hearing, other evidence provided was a testimony by Trooper Rodney Owens, the lead detective on the investigation. He said that out of 18 shells found, 14 came from Stafford's gun. The other four came from Greenhouse's gun.
Jeremy Mardis was struck five times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The trial for Stafford is set for a November 28 and Greenhouse's trial is scheduled for March 13.

[@charynoy]

I don't know where to begin. They shot an unarmed man who had his arms raised in surrender, fired 18 rounds into a car without regard to other possible occupants in the car, then casually walked around for several minutes without offering any aid to the man, who was still obviously alive and in need of care, then casually glance at and discuss the body of the child, without ever checking to see if the child still had a pulse and might be in need of care. Is is what we've come to?

[@BrijanbMentalIron]

So just everyone can wear a badge and hold a gun these days.

[@etiquettefiend]

Shoot first, ask questions later works fantastic.

[@brockm3340]

Bad shooting.

[@jeffgrey663]

but no outrage. because hes white right

[@artuniverse2117]

And no sticking up for these cops because they’re black right?

[@xhimout1566]

Let me get a badge to hunt down krook pigzssss!!!!