A Mississippi police officer who officials say shot an 11-year-old in late May has been suspended without pay.
Indianola Board of Aldermen member Ruben Woods confirmed that the decision to discipline Sgt. Greg Capers for severely injuring Aderrien Murry was made during a board meeting Monday night in a 4-1 vote. The action does not equate to termination.
Capers has not been charged in the incident.
According to a lawsuit filed last month against the city, Capers, Police Chief Ronald Sampson and five additional police department employees by the minor’s mother, Nakala Murry, the child sustained a collapsed lung, lacerated liver and fractured ribs from the gunshot wound sustained during a domestic call in May.
The suit alleges that Capers shot Murry after arriving at Murry’s home that evening after responding to a 911 call from her son because the father of one of Murry’s children arrived at her residence unannounced around 4 a.m. Murray feared for the safety of her and her children.
When Capers arrived, the suit alleges that he approached the front door with his firearm drawn. He immediately instructed everyone to exit the house. As Aderrien came down the hallway into the living room area, Capers shot him.
The child spent four days at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he was given a chest tube and placed on oxygen.
“The injuries endured by all plaintiffs could have been avoided if the defendant would’ve acquired adequate training on how to provide proper assistance and care,” the lawsuit states.
The suit accuses Sampson, Capers and the employees of negligence, using excessive force, reckless endangerment, civil assault and battery, failure in hiring to monitor, train, supervise and discipline or take necessary corrective action on the officer involved and reckless disregard for the rights and safety of those inside the residence.
Nakala Murry is seeking at least $5 million in damages.
Speaking with the Associated Press, Michael Carr, an attorney for Capers, described the meeting as “closed-door” and “unnoticed.” He stated that neither him or his client were informed that it was taking place.
“This is very disturbing to Sgt. Capers,” the attorney told the outlet. “He should have been allowed due process. They have no evidence Sgt. Capers intentionally shot this young man, which he didn’t.
“Everything that happened was a total and complete accident,” he said, adding that body cam footage would prove Capers’ version of the story is accurate.
A communications supervisor for the police department responded “no comment” when asked if officials planned on releasing body cam footage associated with the incident.
The investigation is being handled by the Bureau of Investigation and releasing the footage would be on their timeframe, the supervisor said.
During an interview with Good Morning America two weeks ago, 11-year-old Murry said he came out of his bedroom with his hands up, ran across a corner of his house and “just got shot,” which he said felt like a “big punch in the chest.”
He then ran to his mom and started to bleed from the mouth. His mother then began applying pressure to the child’s chest.
“I laid him on the ground and applied pressure to where he was shot at to make sure he didn’t go to sleep,” she said. “I just prayed. I just did what I knew.”
Relaying a message for the officer, the child said he wants Capers to come forward about what he did to him that night.
“I want you to be terminated,” the child said.
When asked about his plans for the future, the 11-year-old said that he’d previously wanted to be a police officer but has changed his mind since the incident. He now wants to become a doctor.
