An 11-year-old boy who was shot dead by a police officer has returned home after almost a week of treatment.
Aderrien Murry spent five days in hospital with a collapsed lung, lacerated liver and fractured ribs after the officer shot him in the chest early Saturday, attorney Carlos Moore said.
Aderrien was well enough to leave the hospital on Wednesday and is continuing his recovery at his home in Indianola, about 95 miles northwest of Jackson, Mississippi.
Mr Moore said the family “demand justice”.
“An 11-year-old black boy in the town of Indianola nearly lost his life – he had done nothing wrong and all was well.”
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 house.
Ms Murry felt threatened, Mr Moore said, and the child had “called the police to come to his mother’s aid, he called his grandmother to come to his mother’s aid, the police came to the scene and escalated the situation.”
Two officers arrived and one kicked the front door before Ms Murry opened it, telling them the man was gone but his three children were inside .
The child does not understand why a policeman shot him
Mr Moore said Sergeant Greg Capers, who is black, shouted that anyone inside should come out with their hands up.
When Aderrien walked into the living room with nothing in his hands, Capers shot him in the chest, Mr. Moore said.
Indianola City Attorney Kimberly Merchant confirmed to Indianola’s Enterprise-Tocsin newspaper that Capers was the officer who shot the little boy and Mr. Moore said Thursday that Capers was suspended with pay during the investigation of the incident.
Ms Murry said her son was ‘blessed’ to be alive, but he cannot understand why a police officer shot him.
‘That’s my child, y’all’
She described what happened as “the worst time of my life”, adding: “I feel like no one cares – it’s my child, y’all.”
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said its officers are investigating what happened and will share their findings with the attorney general’s office.
