Aderrien Murry, an 11-year-old boy who was shot by a police officer who'd responded to his 911 call, has one pressing question for his assailant:
"Why did you do it?"
The incident occurred on May 20 when the child called 911 at the request of his mother, reporting an altercation involving his younger sister's father at their home in Indianola.
Sergeant Greg Capers, the responding officer, arrived at the scene with his firearm already drawn and ordered everyone out of the house. As Murry was complying with the instructions, he was shot in the chest.
In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Murry shared the harrowing details of the incident that has left him traumatized.
You can hear what he said in the video below.
Murry described how he tried to follow the police commands but ended up being shot despite his cooperation.
Murry recounted Capers ordering everyone to exit the house with their hands up, and he recalled hearing a big bang:
"Then I just remember holding my chest.”
The innocent 11-year-old never anticipated the shocking turn of events that would change his life and said he is experiencing significant trauma:
“Sometimes, I can see myself laying inside the coffin. Those are my thoughts at night, my only ones. Sometimes I think people are watching me. But my main thought is me dead, inside the coffin.”
Then, addressing Capers directly, he said:
“Why did you do it? I could have lost my life, all because of you."
Murry faces the physical and emotional toll of his injuries, which include a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, and fractured ribs.
Seeking justice for their son, his family has filed a lawsuit against the Indianola Police Department and Capers. Currently, Capers has been suspended with pay pending an investigation. Murry's attorney, Carlos Moore, confirmed the legal action and stated that the boy desires to see the officer terminated from his job.
The interview quickly went viral and many were moved by the sight of the child who has been shattered by the violent encounter, raising serious questions about the actions of law enforcement and the lasting consequences for innocent victims.
Many have reignited their calls for accountability.
\u201cGood ... get your money Aderrien and shame on MS for their response.\u201d— Alita Hawksworth (@Alita Hawksworth) 1685482317
\u201cAderrien Murry asks his mum \u201cwhat did I do wrong? Why did I get shot?\u201d\n\nHow does an 11yr old Black child call the Police for help & get shot by the responding officer????!!!\n\nGreg Capers is on paid leave when he should be fired & prosecuted. #Mississippi \nhttps://t.co/PqkbOvcmDk\u201d— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu) 1685011523
\u201cI\u2019m going to go out on a limb & say, if the body-cam footage were exculpatory for the cop, it would have been released by now\u203c\ufe0f\n#SaveMississippi \n\nAfter being shot in the chest by officer Greg Capers, 11 year old Aderrien Murray asked, \u2018Why did he shoot me? What did I do wrong?\u2019\u2026\u201d— Christopher Webb (@Christopher Webb) 1685047632
\u201c\u201cSometimes, I can see myself laying inside the coffin. Those are my thoughts at night, my only ones,\u201d Aderrien Murry, 11, told CNN. #REVOLTSocialjustice\n\nThat ANYONE, much less an 11-year old CHILD has had to endure this trauma \ud83e\udd2c\n\nhttps://t.co/h62SOcxuH2\u201d— REVOLT (@REVOLT) 1685628044
\u201c@HuffPost I, too, wouldn't mind hearing Capers' answer.\n\nThis shoot first, file paperwork later got way out of hand decades ago.\u201d— HuffPost (@HuffPost) 1685557212
\u201c@nowthisnews To cause this young man trauma like that? Once again, officer training in question. Way too quick to the trigger. This has to stop and they should be dealt with accordingly.\u201d— NowThis (@NowThis) 1685629980
\u201c@PortiaMcGonagal @TRay_198 If that\u2019s their \u201cbest\u201d officer, I don\u2019t want to know what their \u201caverage\u201d officer is like\u2026mediocrity apparently is the standard for police these days.\u201d— Portia \u264d\ufe0f \ud83d\udc33McGonagal portiamcgonagal1619 on Insta (@Portia \u264d\ufe0f \ud83d\udc33McGonagal portiamcgonagal1619 on Insta) 1684941369
\u201c@PortiaMcGonagal If that\u2019s their best, I shudder to imagine the worst in that department.\u201d— Portia \u264d\ufe0f \ud83d\udc33McGonagal portiamcgonagal1619 on Insta (@Portia \u264d\ufe0f \ud83d\udc33McGonagal portiamcgonagal1619 on Insta) 1684941369
During the same interview, Nakala Murry expressed gratitude for her son's survival but emphasized the importance of justice in the situation, which includes improved training for police officers and the termination of Capers.
The mother questioned whether it would have been safer to refrain from calling the police in the first place.
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