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. 

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.