2 city marshals indicted in La. boy's shooting death
MARKSVILLE, La. — Two deputy city marshals were indicted on second-degree murder charges Thursday in the fatal shooting of a 6-year-old autistic boy last month while he was strapped into the front seat of his father’s vehicle.
The indictment handed up Thursday by an Avoyelles Parish grand jury charges 32-year-old Derrick Stafford and 23-year-old Norris Greenhouse Jr. with one count each of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
Police say Stafford, a full-time police lieutenant, and Greenhouse, a former police officer, were moonlighting as deputy city marshals in Marksville on the night of Nov. 3 when they fired at least 18 rounds at a car driven by Chris Few. The shooting severely wounded Few and killed his son, Jeremy Mardis.
Stafford and Greenhouse were arrested on second-degree murder charges last month but not formally charged until Thursday.
Both men were working as Marksville city marshals, but also work for other law enforcement agencies. Stafford, a lieutenant with the Marksville Police Department, has worked for the department for eight years. He also works part-time for the Alexandria city marshal's office for about a year, The Town Talk was told by Marshal Terrence Grines.
Greenhouse is a full-time Alexandria city deputy marshal. He has been on paid administrative leave, Grines said.
Stafford was not being paid because he is a part-time employee. Grines said he usually worked between 15 to 20 hours per week.
The two were among four officers at the scene of the shooting. The other two, Lt. Jason Brouillette and Sgt. Kenneth Parnell, have not been charged in connection to the shooting.
Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow Melissa Gregory on Twitter: @MGreg_TownTalk