- The 11-year-old Mississippi boy shot by a police officer has been comforting his own mother, urging her not to blame herself.
- Aderrien Murry was shot in the chest last Saturday after he called 911 for help.
An 11-year-old Mississippi boy was shot by a police officer after calling 911 for help — and now that he's home recovering, he's been urging his mother to blame the cop and not herself, according to the family's attorney.
Aderrien Murry was shot in the chest early on Saturday morning, shortly after Indianola police officers arrived at his home in response to a domestic disturbance call. The Murry family's attorney, Carlos Moore, said one of the officers had ordered everyone in the house to "come out with your hands up," but when Aderrien complied, the officer opened fire.
Moore told Insider in an interview that Aderrien remembers the entire incident, and began receiving counseling on Friday to help cope with the trauma. In the meantime, he's also been reassuring his own mother that she did nothing wrong.
"He told his mom not to worry. It was not her fault," Moore told Insider. "She was blaming herself, and he's trying to encourage her not to blame herself. He told us, 'It's the cop's fault — it's not your fault.' He was doing all he could to help protect his mom, and he ends up getting shot."
Moore said he's outraged at the Indianola Police Department's handling of the situation. Moore said the officer involved has been put on paid leave, which he called "a paid vacation for shooting someone." Moore added that the Murry family hopes to eventually see the officer charged with aggravated assault.
The police department has also so far refused to release the footage, citing an "ongoing investigation," though Moore noted that other police departments have previously released body camera footage within hours of shooting incidents.
Moore said he believes the police department's reluctance to release the footage immediately indicates that the footage will spark public outcry. The Indianola Police Department declined to comment to Insider, saying state authorities are still investigating the shooting.
"We know that if it's in their favor, the immediately release" body camera footage, Moore said. "So we believe that it is worse than we can imagine."
Moore told Insider his firm is preparing to file a federal lawsuit next week to obtain the body camera footage, and hopes to also obtain footage from a nearby gas station.
Moore also said Aderrien is slowly recovering and "getting better day by day," but continues to struggle with breathing, due to his collapsed lung, and often feels as though he's suffocating.
Moore described Aderrien as a "bubbly" child who has struggled to understand why an officer would shoot him.
"He is full of personality, an outstanding 11-year-old. He's wise beyond his years," Moore said. "He has an old soul. It was like talking to a grown man."
Moore also said he and other adults have been trying to explain to Aderrien that it's still important to trust law enforcement, and that there are many "good cops." But he said the child may never fully feel comfortable around police officers again.
"Emotionally, mentally, he's still very much traumatized," Moore said. "He keeps asking what did he do wrong? Why did the officer shoot him? He just can't understand."