Video appears to show motorist had hands up before marshals killed boy
MARKSVILLE, La. -- Footage from a police body camera appears to show that the father of a 6-year-old autistic boy had his hands in the air before city marshals opened fire, severely wounding the motorist and killing the boy, CBS News has learned from a law enforcement source.
The head of the Louisiana State Police earlier said that video of the shooting is one of the most disturbing things he's ever seen, CBS News' David Begnaud reported.
"This was not a threatening situation for the police," Mark Jeansonne, the attorney for Chris Few, told the Associated Press after a closed hearing for the marshals.
Few remained hospitalized, and he was unable to attend the family's funeral for his son, 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis.
The judge ordered both held on $1 million bond. Derrick Stafford, 32, of Mansura and Derrick Greenhouse Jr., 23, of Marksville each is charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
The lawyer said he still hasn't seen the video, but its contents were described to the judge during the hearing.
Jeansonne 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.
The possibility that the officers could post bond and be released Monday, despite the murder charges, didn't sit well with some townspeople who gathered outside the jail.
"This child couldn't hurt a fly and his life is gone. I feel justice was not served," said Latasha Murray.
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.
Jeremy Mardis was mourned Monday at his funeral in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he lived before moving with his father recently to Louisiana.
Outside the funeral home, Anita Bonnette, the assistant principal from Lafargue Elementary School in Effie, Louisiana, said the school brought in a crisis team to counsel Jeremy's classmates and teachers.
"He was just a very sweet loving little boy who enjoyed being at school and enjoyed his friends," she said.