The Indianola police officer accused of shooting 11-year-old Aderrien Murry in the chest has been suspended without pay.
According to attorney Carlos Moore, who is representing the 11-year-old, Murry was shot by Sgt. Greg Capers despite being unarmed and obeying commands with his hands in the air.
On Saturday, May 20, Nakala Murry, Aderrien’s mother, asked her son to call the police around 4:00 a.m. because the father of one of her other children showed up at her home unannounced.
Moore explained that, upon arrival, Capers tried to kick in the door of the home before Nakala opened it and proceeded to explain that the unarmed intruder had exited the back of the property.
Capers and another officer — with guns drawn — then ordered all occupants to come out of the house with their hands drawn in the air. As Aderrien rounded a corner into the living room, he was shot by Capers, per Moore.
“He was shot by Greg Capers for simply following orders,” Moore said. “There is no justification. There will never be a justification. I don’t care if they try to prepare a statement or come up with an excuse. This is inexplicable. It will never be justified. It’s senseless.”
Fortunately, the 11-year-old survived the shooting, though he was hospitalized for five days due to a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, and fractured ribs.
The child’s family is calling for the termination of Capers — as well as Indianola Police Chief Ronald Sampson — from their positions. In addition, Moore says the family is that hopeful Capers will experience time behind bars for aggravated assault. If convicted, the officer could face up to 60 years in prison.
“This guy is clearly bad with a gun. He’s a danger to society. He has to go,” Moore continued. “This was aggravated assault. It was not a justified shooting. He needs to be prosecuted. I want him indicted. The family wants him indicted. We want him tried before a jury of his peers for the crime he committed.”
Murry’s family is also seeking $5 million in restitution from the city for Aderrien’s injuries, though Moore notes that no monetary gains will make up for the trauma the child has from the incident.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is currently looking into the incident involving Capers and Murry. MBI agents will share their findings with the state attorney general’s office.
