INDIANOLA, MS - On Thursday, December 14th, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that charges would not be filed against an officer who shot and wounded an 11-year-old boy who had reportedly called 911 for help during a domestic dispute.
Fitch stated that the incident was given to a grand jury after her office completed their review. The grand jury reported that it found that Sgt. Greg Capers did not commit any criminal conduct during the incident. Fitch said that her office will take no further action against Sgt. Capers, the officer who shot and wounded 11-year-old Aderrien Murry.
The incident happened on May 20th when Murry called police at the request of his mother because the father of one of her children came to the house extremely angry. After arriving at the house, police instructed everyone inside to come outside with their hands up.
According to the family, that is when Murry emerged from around the corner, running towards the door and was shot at by Capers. Following the shooting, Murry suffered a collapsed lung, fractured rib, and lacerated liver. He did, however, survive the shooting.
In May, his family filed a $5 million federal lawsuit, arguing that the police officers responded to the domestic disturbance call in a manner that was "so outrageous that it shocks the moral and legal conscience of the community." The suit names the city of Indianola along with two police officers as the defendants.
The lawsuit accuses the police department of gross negligence and reckless disregard as well as failing to training and supervise its officers properly. The family is calling for Capers and the Indianola Police Chief, Ronald Sampson, to be fired. They also want Capers to be criminally prosecuted.
The family said they have repeatedly asked for body camera footage of the incident to be released. However, the Indianola Police Department said it would not release details on the shooting until after the investigation was complete.
The family's attorney, Carlos Moore, said that the boy and his family followed police instructions to exit the house. Murry's mother also said that she informed the police that the alleged intruder had already left and that her three kids were in the home.
Moore said that despite the grand jury's decision, he believes that the shooting was not justified and he plans to continue to pursue the case. He said in a statement to NPR, "We are committed to seeking justice for Aderrien and his family, and we will persist in our efforts to ensure accountability through the civil legal process."
Caper's attorney, Michael Carr, said that the Sgt. is relieved at the decision and is "looking forward to getting back to work," adding, "...He is glad that the citizens of Sunflower County reached the fair and correct result. He is looking forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Sunflower County and the city of Indianola."
According to CBS News, in June, the Indianola Board of Aldermen voted to place Sgt. Capers on unpaid administrative leave. Carr said that he cannot return to work and get paid unless the Board votes to take him off leave.
Fitch stated that the incident was given to a grand jury after her office completed their review. The grand jury reported that it found that Sgt. Greg Capers did not commit any criminal conduct during the incident. Fitch said that her office will take no further action against Sgt. Capers, the officer who shot and wounded 11-year-old Aderrien Murry.
The incident happened on May 20th when Murry called police at the request of his mother because the father of one of her children came to the house extremely angry. After arriving at the house, police instructed everyone inside to come outside with their hands up.
According to the family, that is when Murry emerged from around the corner, running towards the door and was shot at by Capers. Following the shooting, Murry suffered a collapsed lung, fractured rib, and lacerated liver. He did, however, survive the shooting.
In May, his family filed a $5 million federal lawsuit, arguing that the police officers responded to the domestic disturbance call in a manner that was "so outrageous that it shocks the moral and legal conscience of the community." The suit names the city of Indianola along with two police officers as the defendants.
The lawsuit accuses the police department of gross negligence and reckless disregard as well as failing to training and supervise its officers properly. The family is calling for Capers and the Indianola Police Chief, Ronald Sampson, to be fired. They also want Capers to be criminally prosecuted.
The family said they have repeatedly asked for body camera footage of the incident to be released. However, the Indianola Police Department said it would not release details on the shooting until after the investigation was complete.
The family's attorney, Carlos Moore, said that the boy and his family followed police instructions to exit the house. Murry's mother also said that she informed the police that the alleged intruder had already left and that her three kids were in the home.
Moore said that despite the grand jury's decision, he believes that the shooting was not justified and he plans to continue to pursue the case. He said in a statement to NPR, "We are committed to seeking justice for Aderrien and his family, and we will persist in our efforts to ensure accountability through the civil legal process."
Caper's attorney, Michael Carr, said that the Sgt. is relieved at the decision and is "looking forward to getting back to work," adding, "...He is glad that the citizens of Sunflower County reached the fair and correct result. He is looking forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Sunflower County and the city of Indianola."
According to CBS News, in June, the Indianola Board of Aldermen voted to place Sgt. Capers on unpaid administrative leave. Carr said that he cannot return to work and get paid unless the Board votes to take him off leave.
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