An 11-year-old boy who was shot by a police officer has returned home from hospital after nearly a week of treatment.
Aderrien Murry spent five days in hospital with a collapsed lung, a ruptured liver and broken ribs after the officer shot him in the chest early Saturday, attorney Carlos Moore said.
Aderrien was well enough to leave the hospital Wednesday and is continuing to recover at home in Indianola, about 95 miles northwest of Jackson, Mississippi.
Mr Moore said the family demanded “justice”.
“An 11-year-old black boy in the town of Indianola nearly died – he had done nothing wrong and everything right.”
Mr Moore said Aderrien’s mother Nakala asked him to call the police around 4am on Saturday after a former partner showed up at the home.
Ms Murry felt threatened, Mr Moore said, and the child “called the police to come to his mother’s aid, he called his grandmother to come to his mother’s aid, the police were at the scene and have the situation escalates”.
Two police officers arrived and one kicked the front door before Ms Murry opened it, telling them the man had left but their three children were inside.
Child does not understand why a police officer shot him
Mr Moore said Sergeant Greg Capers, who is black, shouted for everyone inside to come out with their hands up.
When Aderrien entered the living room with nothing in hand, Capers shot him in the chest, Mr Moore said.
Indianola City Prosecutor Kimberly Merchant confirmed to the Indianola newspaper Enterprise-Tocsin that Capers was the officer who shot the little boy, and Mr Moore said on Thursday that Capers had been suspended on pay while the incident was taking place will be examined.
Ms Murry said her son was “blessed” to be alive but he didn’t understand why a police officer shot him.
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“This is my child, y’all”
She described what had happened as “the worst moment of my life,” adding, “I feel like nobody cares — this is my kid, y’all.”
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said its agents would investigate the incident and report their findings to the attorney general’s office.
