Greg Capers: Mississippi Cop Who Shot 11-Year-Old Boy Cleared of Criminal Charges

Greg Capers: On May 20, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Indianola, Mississippi, when a police officer shot and wounded an 11-year-old boy in his chest. The boy, Aderrien Murry, had called 911 to report a domestic disturbance between his mother and her former partner. He was following his mother out of the house with his hands up when he was shot by the officer, who was later identified as Sergeant Greg Capers. Aderrien survived the shooting but suffered serious injuries, including a collapsed lung, a lacerated liver, and fractured ribs. He was airlifted to a hospital and stayed there for five days.

The shooting sparked outrage and protests in the community, as well as calls for justice and accountability. The family of Aderrien demanded the release of the bodycam footage and the firing of Capers. They also filed a civil lawsuit against Capers and the city of Indianola, alleging excessive force, negligence, and civil rights violations. However, on December 15, 2023, a grand jury decided not to indict Capers, clearing him of any criminal charges. The decision was met with disappointment and anger by the family and their supporters, who vowed to continue their fight for justice.

But who is Greg Capers, the Mississippi police officer who shot Aderrien Murry? What is his background, his career, and his reputation? And what are the possible outcomes of the civil lawsuit and the internal investigation by the police department? In this article, we will try to answer these questions and provide a comprehensive overview of the case.

Who is Greg Capers?

Capers is a sergeant with the Indianola Police Department. He is originally from West Monroe, Louisiana, where he also worked as a police officer. He moved to Indianola and married LaShundra Fletcher-Capers in 2016. He has several children from previous relationships. He is a devout Christian and a skilled marksman. He often posts on social media about his family, his faith, and his shooting abilities. He once wrote “The new no trespassing sign!” next to a photo of a bullet-riddled target.

Greg Capers has been with the Indianola Police Department for over six years. He was named the “Policeman of the Year” in 2022 for his outstanding performance and dedication. He was also praised for his involvement in the community, especially with the youth. He coached a youth basketball team and participated in several outreach programs. He was described by his colleagues and superiors as a “model officer” and a “leader”.

However, Capers also had a history of complaints and disciplinary actions. According to the records obtained by the family’s attorney, Carlos Moore, Capers had been reprimanded or suspended at least five times since 2018 for various violations, such as improper use of force, failure to follow orders, unprofessional conduct, and falsifying reports. He was also involved in two other shootings, one in 2019 and one in 2021, both of which were ruled justified by the department. Moore said that Capers had a “pattern of misconduct” and a “trigger-happy” attitude that should have raised red flags.

What happened on May 20, 2023?

On May 20, 2023, around 4 a.m., Nakala Murry, the mother of Aderrien, was awakened by her former partner, who had shown up at her home on BB King Road in Indianola. He was angry and violent, and threatened to harm her and her children. She asked her son, Aderrien, to call 911 and report the situation. Aderrien did as he was told and spoke to the dispatcher, who assured him that help was on the way.

However, the police did not arrive until two hours later, around 6 a.m. By then, the former partner had already left the scene. Two officers, Greg Capers and another officer whose name has not been released, knocked on the door and ordered everyone inside to come out with their hands up. Nakala, Aderrien, and two other children complied and walked out of the house. As they were exiting, Capers fired his gun and hit Aderrien in the chest. Capers later claimed that he thought Aderrien was the suspect and that he had a weapon in his hand. However, no weapon was found on Aderrien or in the house.

BREAKING: A grand jury voted NOT TO INDICT Greg Capers, the Indianola police officer who shot 11-year-old Aderrien Murry in the chest at his home in May.https://t.co/kKyoGgTIWB

— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) December 14, 2023

Aderrien collapsed on the ground, bleeding profusely. Nakala ran to him and tried to stop the bleeding. She said that Capers did not offer any assistance or apology. He only asked her “Why did you let him come out?” She said that she was in shock and disbelief, and that she felt like she was living a nightmare. She said that Aderrien was a good boy, who loved basketball, video games, and school. He was only 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 85 pounds. He posed no threat to anyone.

Aderrien was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, and then airlifted to a trauma center in Jackson. He underwent surgery and received multiple blood transfusions. He was in critical condition for several days, but eventually stabilized and recovered. He was released from the hospital on May 25, 2023. He still has a bullet lodged in his chest, which doctors said could not be removed safely. He also suffers from physical and emotional trauma, and has nightmares about the shooting.

What happened after the shooting?

The shooting of Aderrien Murry sparked a public outcry and a demand for justice. The family, their attorney, and their supporters held several press conferences, rallies, and protests, calling for the release of the bodycam footage and the firing of Greg Capers. They also demanded a thorough and independent investigation by the Department of Justice and the FBI. They said that the shooting was unjustified, reckless, and racially motivated, as Capers is white and Aderrien is black.

The Indianola Police Department and the city officials initially remained silent and refused to comment on the case, citing the ongoing investigation. They also declined to release the bodycam footage, saying that it was part of the evidence and that it could compromise the investigation. They placed Capers on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation. They said that they were cooperating with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, which was assigned to handle the case.

On June 1, 2023, the family filed a civil lawsuit against Capers and the city of Indianola in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. The lawsuit alleged that Capers used excessive and unreasonable force against Aderrien, violating his constitutional rights. It also alleged that the city was negligent and liable for failing to train, supervise, and discipline Capers, and for allowing him to remain on duty despite his history of misconduct. The lawsuit sought compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief, such as the release of the bodycam footage, the firing of Capers, and the implementation of reforms and policies to prevent future incidents of police brutality.

On June 15, 2023, the Indianola Board of Aldermen voted to place Greg Capers on unpaid administrative leave, following a request from the family and their attorney. The board said that the decision was based on the best interest of the city and the public, and that it was not a judgment on Capers’ guilt or innocence. The board also said that it would wait for the results of the grand jury before taking any further action.

On December 15, 2023, the grand jury convened by the Sunflower County District Attorney’s Office announced that it had decided not to indict Capers, clearing him of any criminal charges. The grand jury said that it had reviewed the evidence, including the bodycam footage, the 911 call, the witness statements, the medical records, and the forensic reports, and that it had found no probable cause to believe that Capers had committed a crime. The grand jury said that it had applied the legal standard of whether Capers had acted reasonably under the circumstances, and that it had concluded that he had.

The decision was met with disappointment and anger by the family and their attorney, who said that they were shocked and appalled by the outcome. They said that the grand jury had failed to deliver justice, and that the evidence clearly showed that Capers had acted recklessly and unlawfully. They said that the bodycam footage, which they had finally seen, contradicted Capers’ claim that he had mistaken Aderrien for the suspect and that he had seen a weapon in his hand. They said that the footage showed that Aderrien was clearly a child, that he had nothing in his hand, and that he was complying with the officers’ commands. They also said that the footage showed that Capers had fired his gun without warning or justification, and that he had shown no remorse or concern for Aderrien’s life.

The family and their attorney said that they would continue to pursue justice through the civil lawsuit, and that they would also seek a federal investigation by the Department of Justice and the FBI.