MARKSVILLE, LA (WAFB) -
Two days after 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis was accidentally shot and killed at the tail-end of a police pursuit, many are still confused about exactly what happened on Martin Luther King Drive in Marksville, LA.
During a 2 p.m. news conference on Thursday,
Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said no gun was found in the vehicle the Ward 2 City Marshal deputies were chasing that resulted in the death of a 6-year-old boy. The shooting happened Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015 around 9:30 p.m.
Officials say the child was shot five times during the shootout.
(It's not a shoot out if only one side has guns.
p4p)
Dr. L.J. Mayeux, coroner of Avoyelles Parish, said the father of the victim, Chris Few, had warrants out for his arrest. Ward 2 City Marshal deputies reportedly spotted Few's vehicle on Washington Street and initiated a stop. Instead of pulling over, officials say Few led deputies on a chase through Marksville, finally turning down Martin Luther King Drive, which is a dead end street.
Parish investigators initially said marshals were chasing Chris Few because of an outstanding warrant. However,
WAFB checked with the Clerk of Court, the District Attorney's Office, Marksville Police Department and City Court and we did not find any outstanding warrants. Col. Mike Edmonson says so far, their investigation shows the same.
"I am not aware of one but I have not been provided with anything that says otherwise," he said.
Mayeux added Few backed into the marshal's vehicle several times and would not get out and that is when the gunfire erupted.
Officials initially stated there was an exchange of gunfire during the incident Tuesday night. As of Thursday afternoon,
officials are now saying a gun was not found in Few's vehicle.
At last report, Few was listed in critical condition.
Col. Edmonson says there is also no evidence, at this time, that Few backed into the deputy's vehicle. Investigators are reviewing at least one piece of video that shows part of the gunfire. A source tells WAFB that video is from a police body camera one of the officers was wearing.
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