News Digest

Two US police officers charged with murdering six-year-old autistic boy

Two Lousiana police officers have been charged with murder after a six-year old autistic boy was shot dead in his father’s car. It happened during a chase in the town of Marksville on Tuesday night. Jeremy Mardis was apparently hit by five bullets in the head and chest and his father, Chris Few, was wounded in the incident. He is still being treated in hospital. Louisiana Police say officers Derek Stafford and Norris Greenhouse Jr face charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. Two other officers involved in the shooting have not yet been charged. All four are on administrative leave.

Jeremy Mardis, six years old; he didn’t deserve to die like that. We took some of the body cam footage. I’m not gonna talk about it, but I’m gonna tell you this - it is the most disturbing thing I’ve seen and I will leave it at that.

State police chief Colonel Mike Edmonson

Officials have said police were chasing Mr Few to serve him a warrant but it is not clear why they opened fire. According to reports, he was not armed. Police say Jeremy, who was strapped into the front seat of his father’s car, was pronounced dead at the scene. In a statement to WAFB-TV, his grandmother Samantha Few said he was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. She described Jeremy as “a special gift from God”, adding: “He was always smiling, always happy. He loved everyone he met and they loved him. He didn’t deserve what happened. He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”