The family of Aderrien Murry, an 11-year-old boy who was shot by a police officer in Indianola, Mississippi, is demanding that the officer be charged with aggravated assault.
Murry was unarmed and following instructions from the officer when he was shot in the chest on Saturday morning. The officer, Greg Capers, has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Murry’s family is calling for Capers to be fired and charged with a crime. They are also calling for an independent investigation into the shooting.
“We are demanding justice,” said Carlos Moore, the family’s attorney. “An 11-year-old Black boy in the city of Indianola came within an inch of losing his life. He had done nothing wrong and everything right.”
Murry is recovering from his injuries at a local hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The shooting has sparked outrage in Indianola and across the country. Many people are calling for an end to police brutality, particularly against Black people.
“This is not an isolated incident,” said Moore. “This is a pattern of police violence against Black people.”
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation into the shooting. The results of the investigation will be turned over to the district attorney’s office, which will decide whether to file charges against Capers.