Marksville, a little town in central Louisiana with 5,500 residents, has always been know for its casino owned by Native Americans, or as a spot in African-American history: Solomon Northup was enslaved in Avoyelles Parish and later recounted his story in “12 years a Slave.”
Now, Marksville is known as the place where police say 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis was shot to death by two marshals. The killing is tragic because authorities are not releasing details about what happened. A judge has issued a gag order. Despite the gag order, the killing has revealed a town with feuding politicians and confusing power alignments that may cloud the case.
Even the mayor suggested to CNN that Marksville struggles with corruption “to an extent.” “It’s sad for the city that it took a 6 year old boy for them to come and see what was really going down here,” Marksville resident Ricky Jenkins said. “It’s it’s just not right.”
Jeremy Mardis’ young life ended November 3 after a police chase involving his father.Marshals were pursuing the father, Chris Few, after alleged domestic abuse with his girlfriend, according to a source close to the case. Few fled in his SUV, with his first-grader in the passenger seat. Few was not armed. But somehow, the chase ended with a hail of gunfire.
Jeremy was shot five times in the head and chest and died. The boy was still dressed in his school uniform. His father was shot and hospitalized. Three days later, Marshals Norris Greenhouse Jr., 23, and Derrick Stafford, 32, were charged with second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder. They’re in jail with bond set at $1 million each.
Many are wondering why the marshals even got involved in the chase and shooting.In Louisiana, marshals typically don’t perform that kind of police work. They work through the city court system, serving arrest warrants and court documents.In Marksville, though, the situation changed when the mayor and a city judge started feuding.
After the City Council slashed funding for the City Court a few months ago, city Judge Angelo Piazza III sued Marksville government to have the funding restored.Then marshals were given expanded duties. Mayor John Lemoine complained to the state attorney general that marshals were writing traffic tickets without the approval of the City Council, according to CNN affiliate KREM.
“Deputy ward marshals were also allowed to make arrests and preserve the peace,” Marksville Marshal Floyd Voinche Sr. said.The city’s 24-member police force answers to a chief and the mayor. The deputy marshals answer to Voinche, who carries out the orders of the city court and its judge.
Marksville is in Ward 2 of Avoyelles Parish.Piazza referred reporters to his lawyer, Brad Calvit. Calvit did not respond to a voice mail left at his office.
“It’s wrong what they are doing out here. They all about protecting and serve; they’re not protecting and serving nothing,” said Jenkins, the resident.