Cop convicted of manslaughter

MARKSVILLE, La. — A Louisiana law enforcement officer was convicted on a lesser charge of manslaughter in a shooting that killed a 6-yearold autistic boy, a gruesome encounter captured on tape by another officer’s body camera.

Jurors on Friday found Derrick Stafford guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter charges. He had faced charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder in the case.

Stafford, 33, and another deputy city marshal opened fire on a car — killing Jeremy Mardis and critically wounding his father — after a 2-mile car chase in Marksville on the night of Nov. 3, 2015.

Video from a police officer’s body camera shows the father, Christopher Few, had his hands raised inside his vehicle while the two deputies collectively fired 18 shots. At least four of those bullets tore into Jeremy, who died within minutes.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said in a statement that his office is happy with the 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,” the statement said.

Stafford’s sentencing is set for this week.

Stafford testified Friday that he shot at the car because he feared Few was going to back up and hit the other deputy, Norris Greenhouse Jr.

“I felt I had no choice but to save Norris. That is the only reason I fired my weapon,” Stafford said.

Prosecutors said the officers weren’t in any danger.

Greenhouse, 25, faces a separate trial on murder charges later this year.

Stafford cried when a prosecutor showed him photographs of the slain first-grader. He said he didn’t know the boy was in the car when he fired and didn’t see his father’s hands in the air.

“Never in a million years would I have fired my weapon if I knew a child was in that car. I would have called off the pursuit myself,” Stafford said.