A Louisiana jury has found former Marksville Deputy Marshal Derrick Stafford guilty of one count of Manslaughter and one count of Attempted Manslaughter in the shooting death of 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis.
The verdict was announced in a Baton Rouge court, bringing an end to a highly publicized and emotional trial. Stafford, who was 27 years old at the time of the shooting, was accused of firing his gun at a car containing Jeremy and his father, Christopher Few, on November 3, 2015.
According to eyewitnesses, Stafford and another deputy, Norris Greenhouse Jr., had been pursuing Few’s car when they opened fire, striking Jeremy multiple times. The young boy was pronounced dead at the scene, while his father survived the shooting.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry issued a statement following the verdict, saying, “We are pleased with today’s verdict. As we have said all along, our goal in this case was to get justice for Jeremy Mardis, his family, and the people of Louisiana. Today, that happened.”
Landry praised the work of Judge Bennett and the jury, as well as his lead prosecutors John Sinquefield and Matthew Derbes, who worked tirelessly to achieve the guilty verdict. The Attorney General also thanked investigators and support staff from his office for their hard work on the case.
The guilty verdict is a significant victory for the people of Louisiana, who have been seeking justice for Jeremy and his family for over five years. As Attorney General Landry stated, “As Attorney General, I will continue to fight for justice and the rule of law in a fair and ethical manner.” The case will now move on to the sentencing phase, where Stafford will face a possible sentence of up to 40 years in prison for the Manslaughter charge and up to 20 years for the Attempted Manslaughter charge.
In a statement, Landry’s office said that they would continue to work to ensure that those responsible for Jeremy’s death are held accountable. The case has sparked widespread outrage and calls for police reform in Louisiana, with many questioning the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers.
As the case moves forward, the people of Louisiana will be watching closely to see that justice is served. With the guilty verdict, the state has taken a significant step towards healing and closure for Jeremy’s family and the community. The sentencing phase will be a crucial next step in ensuring that Stafford is held accountable for his actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: Louisiana AG
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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