차량 추격 중 총을 쏴 6살 소년을 살해한 미국 경찰관 2 명이 6일(현지시간) 2급살인 혐의로 체포됐다.
체포된 노리스 그린하우스 주니어와 데릭 스태퍼드 경관은 지난 3일 미국 루이 지애나 주 마크스빌 시에서 자신들이 추격하던 자동차에 총격을 가해 차 안에 있던 6살 제러미 마디스를 숨지게 한 혐의를 받고 있다.
당시 운전 중이던 부친 크리스 퓨도 이들의 총격으로 중상을 입었다.
이에 루이지애나 주 경찰은 직접 이 사건에 대한 수사에 나섰다. 검시관은 마디 스가 몸과 가슴에 수차례 총격을 당했다고 밝혔다.
루이지애나 주 경찰서장 마이클 에드먼슨은 이날 기자회견에서 "마디스는 이렇 게 죽어서는 안 됐다"며 체계적이고 철저한 조사를 약속했다.
그는 이번 사건에 대해 "아버지로서 내가 본 장면 중 가장 충격적인 장면이었다 "고 덧붙였다.
그러나 왜 경찰이 퓨의 차량을 추격했고 차량을 향해 총을 발포한 이유가 무엇 인지 등에 대해선 구체적인 언급을 삼갔다.
이번 사건은 미국에서 지난해부터 이어진 경찰의 과도한 폭력을 향한 비판과 맞 물려 커다란 공분을 샀다. (연합)
<관련 영문 기사>
Two US officers arrested over death of 6-year-old boy
Two US law enforcement officers have been arrested on charges of murder and attempted murder over the fatal shooting of a six-year-old boy in Louisiana, officials said.
The death of Jeremy Mardis will add to growing criticism over perceived brutality in US police forces after several high-profile incidents over the last year.
City marshals Norris Greenhouse, 23, and Derrick Stafford, 32, were arrested on Friday following an incident in Marksville on November 3 in which they opened fire on a vehicle, killing the boy and critically wounding his father, Chris Few, who was driving.
The boy was reportedly hit by five bullets, in the head and the chest.
Another two officers that were involved were also placed on administrative leave.
Colonel Mike Edmonson of Louisiana State Police said the boy died while strapped into the front passenger seat.
“He didn’t deserve to die like that,” he told reporters at a press conference late on Friday, saying the police badge had been “tarnished.”
Citing police body-camera footage of the incident, he described it as “the most disturbing thing I’ve seen.”
He said it was “a complex case.”
Investigators told the WBRZ TV station that the four officers had tried to pull the driver over.
He then allegedly tried to back down a dead-end street toward the marshals, who responded by opening fire. Few was badly wounded and his son was killed.
The TV station quoted Louisiana State Police as saying no weapons were recovered from the vehicle.
The Washington Post said Mardis was the youngest victim of a fatal police shooting this year. (AFP)
