Lawyer: Body Cam Footage Shows Dad Had His Hands in the Air When Marshals Shot and Killed His Son
Body cam footage described by one Louisiana police officer as “the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen” reportedly shows Chris Few had his hands in the air and did not pose a threat when marshals shot and killed his six-year-old son last week.
Few’s son, Jeremy Mardis, was killed last Tuesday in Marksville, Louisiana, during a police encounter that has so far generated more questions than answers.
According to initial reports, the shootout—described by the marshals as an “exchange of fire”—began when Few backed his car into theirs. It ended with 18 shots fired into Few’s car, five of which hit Mardis in the head and chest.
But the self-defense explanation quickly seemed to fall apart: no weapons were found in Few’s vehicle, there was no evidence to suggest any shots had been fired at the officers, and this week the head of the Louisiana state police department went on record disavowing the car ramming story. Other reports that the marshals were in the process of serving a warrant on Few were also refuted this week.
In the meantime, the two marshals—32-year-old Lt. Derrick Stafford and 23-year-old reserve officer Norris Greenhouse Jr.—have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
Now it appears there’s some record of what actually happened, via a body cam reportedly worn by a third officer who was not directly involved in the shooting.
Mark Jeansonne, an attorney for Few, says he’s seen the footage and says Few clearly had his hands in the air.
“This was not a threatening situation for the police,” Jeansonne reportedly told the Associated Press after a closed hearing Monday.
Both marshals are currently being held in jail on a $1 million bond.
