Update: Second Deputy Charged In The Death of Jeremy Mardis Pleads Guilty

On November 2, 2015, 6-year old Jeremy Mardis was in the car with his dad, Christopher Few, when Derrick Stafford and Norris Greenhouse, Jr. opened fire, seriously wounding Christopher and killing Jeremy.

Stafford and Greenhouse, Jr. were charged with attempted second-degree murder and second-degree murder.

Stafford’s trial was in March 2017, in Marksville, Louisiana.  We followed the trial here.

The officers, admitting that they did not see a weapon, alleged that Christopher backed up his vehicle and tried running them over.  A ballistic expert at trial testified that all shots were fired to the side of the vehicle, and cars do not run sideways.  Additionally, body cam footage showed that before the shooting, Christopher had both hands raised outside of his car window.

Derrick Stafford, 33, was found guilty of attempted manslaughter and manslaughter.  He was sentenced to 40 years in prison with credit for time served since 11/3/2015.  20 years of his sentence has to be served without parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. 

Louisiana Officer On Trial For Killing 6-Year Old Jeremy Mardis

Derrick Stafford  (Louisiana State Police via AP, File)

A jury of 12 and 2 alternates have heard opening statements and is hearing testimony in the trial of Derrick Stafford.  The trial is taking place in Marksville, Louisiana.  Stafford, along with his partner Norris Greenhouse, Jr. are charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder in the November 2, 2015 shooting death of 6-year old Jeremy Mardis.  Jeremy was the in the vehicle with his dad, Christopher Few, who was wounded when Stafford and his Greenhouse, Jr. opened fire.

Greenhouse, Jr. is scheduled for a separate trial later this year.

The L.A. Times reports:

“Video from a police officer’s body camera shows the father had his hands raised inside his vehicle when the officers fired their semiautomatic pistols. At least four of their 18 shots ripped into the child’s body while he was strapped into the front seat.

Relatives of the victims wept as jurors watched the graphic video from the shooting. Several jurors were also seen wiping away tears.”

Jeremy Mardis

Stafford and Greenhouse stated that they opened fire on Few because he tried ramming his car into them.  A state police detective has testified there isn’t any physical evidence that Few’s car collided with Greenhouse’s vehicle.

Ballistics evidence shows none of the 18 shots fired by the two deputies hit the front or back of Few’s car.  The prosecution is using that as evident that neither deputy was in danger.  “Cars don’t move sideways,” the prosecutor said.

Video Released of Two Officers Killing 6-Year old Jeremy Mardis

I first reported on this on November 8, 2015 when the news reported that two officers were charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.  Since then, I’ve mentioned the name Jeremy Mardis several times; once was in criticism for Blue Lives Matter, who supports law enforcement who are charged with using deadly force.  The victims in this case are White, and the officers are Black.  Blue Lives Matter has been silent.

CNN now reports that a Louisiana judge released body cam video Wednesday showing officers firing multiple rounds into the car of Chris few, wounding Chris and killing his 6-year-old, autistic son Jeremy Mardis.

Jeremy Mardis.  Jeremy was autistic and could not speak

The incident happened on September 2015 when Marshals saw an argument between a man and his girlfriend in front of a local bar.  Chris Few got into his car. As officers approached the car, Chris drove away.  The officers pursued.  The video shows that when Few drove into a dead end street, he put his hands up, but the officers opened fire anyway.

Officers Norris Greenhouse Jr., and Derrick Stafford are charged with second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder.   Their first story was that they were attempting to serve a warrant on Chris Few, however that has been proven false. Greenhouse knew Few before the deadly encounter.   Investigators are looking into the extent of their relationship.

Jeremy was shot in the head and chest.  At Wednesday’s hearing, State Police forensics experts testified that they determined 18 shots were fired; 14 from Stafford’s gun and four from Greenhouse’s gun. Experts testified that Jeremy was hit five times. Two of the bullets were too damaged to link them to a specific gun. 

Two Louisiana Law Enforcement Officers Charged With Murder

Tuesday evening, Officers Norris Greenhouse, Jr. and Derrick Stafford pursued a SUV driven by Chris Few. It happened about 90 miles northwest of Baton Rouge in the town of Marksville. Few’s 6-year old son was in the passenger’s seat. Few was on a dead-end street, and that is when the two officers opened fire, hitting Jeremy Mardis five times in the head and chest, killing him. His dad was seriously wounded.

There are conflicting reports; some saying that there was a warrant out for Few, and others saying there was no warrant. No gun was found in Few’s possession.

Officers Norris Greenhouse Jr. and Derrick Stafford

Four officers were involved in the chase. All have been placed on paid administrative leave, but Greenhouse Jr. ,23, and Stafford, 32, have been charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

State Police Col. Michael Edmonson said that they used some of the body cam footage in the investigation to make the decision to charge the two officers.

Greenhouse and Stafford were working second jobs as city marshals when the shooting happened. Greenhouse is a full-time Marksville police lieutenant and Stafford is a marshal in Alexandria.

KATC reports that their investigation uncovered that both officers have been previously accused of civil rights violations.