Mississippi cop who shot 11-year-old who called 911 for his mom will not face criminal charges: 'It was a pure accident'

A decorated Mississippi police officer will not face criminal charges even though earlier this year, he shot an 11-year-old boy who had called 911 to report a possible domestic incident.

At around 4 a.m. on May 20, 911 dispatchers received a call from a residence in Indianola, Mississippi, a city of over 10,000 residents about 100 miles north of Jackson. It turns out that Nakala Murry had asked her 11-year-old son, Aderrien Murry, to call the police after her ex-boyfriend, the father of one of Aderrien's siblings, had come over in an "irate" mood.

"I noticed he was kind of irate," Nakala Murry said. "And from dealing with him in the past, I know the irate version of him, what it could lead to."

Aderrien called 911 and his grandmother. His grandmother called 911 as well.

Several officers, including Sgt. Greg Capers, quickly arrived at the scene. Police ordered everyone in the residence to come out with their hands up. When Aderrien came around a corner to comply with the officers' order, Capers reportedly shot him.

"It felt like a taser, like a big punch to the chest," Aderrien later told ABC News. He recalled singing gospel songs to keep himself calm. "I was bleeding, bleeding from my mouth."

"Then I would just remember singing a song."

His song of prayer may have worked. Though the bullet tore through Aderrien's body, the young boy did survive his injuries. He spent five days in the hospital, recovering from a collapsed lung, a lacerated liver, and broken ribs.

Later that month, the Indianola Board of Aldermen voted to place Sgt. Capers on unpaid administrative leave.

On Wednesday, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch presented the case to a grand jury in Sunflower County, but the grand jury decided not to indict Capers.

"The grand jury reported that it found no criminal conduct on behalf of the officer involved," Fitch's office said in a statement following the grand jury's decision. "As such, no further criminal action will be taken by this Office in this matter."

Michael Carr, Capers' attorney, expressed delight on behalf of his client. "Sgt. Capers is relieved at the result, and he is glad that the citizens of Sunflower County reached the fair and correct result," Carr said. "He is looking forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Sunflower County and the city of Indianola."

"Certainly, he wishes none of this happened," Carr told ABC News about a month after the shooting. "None of it happened maliciously. None of it happened intentionally, and none of it happened recklessly. It was a pure accident."

However, Aderrien and his family are disappointed. "I think we should at least go to trial, and I feel bad because no one is able to hear my voice," Aderrien said.

The family has already filed a $5 million lawsuit against the city of Indianola and Police Chief Ronald Sampson, as well as Capers. "I believe he shot first and he looked second, and that's not how police officers are trained," said Carlos Moore, an attorney representing Aderrien. "[Aderrien] clearly had nothing in his hand. He had his hands up as instructed and still got shot."

"We are committed to seeking justice for Aderrien and his family," Moore added.

In 2021, Capers was selected to be the city's best cop. He cannot return to paid duty until the board of aldermen votes to reinstate him.

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