4 full-time police officers and one reservist placed on leave in connection with two shooting incidents

     Four Marksville police officers and a reserve officer have been placed on administrative leave while investigations are underway into two police-involved shootings earlier this week.

    Marksville Police Chief Elster Smith said three full-time officers and the reserve officer were involved in the Tuesday night shooting at Martin Luther King and Taensas that left 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis dead and his father, Chris Few, critically wounded.

   The involved officers are Lt. Derrick Stafford, 8 years with the department; Lt. Jason Brouillette, 13 years with the department; Sgt. Kenneth Parnell, 5 years with the department; and reserve officer Norris Greenhouse Jr.

   Parnell was on-duty with MPD and was called to the scene as back-up, Smith said. The other three were working for the Ward 2/Marksville City Marshal’s Office when the fatal shooting occurred.

  The other police office placed on administrative leave is alleged to have fired the shot that wounded Sharon Lachney during a 9-hour standoff between dozens of law enforcement officers and her son, Will Ray Lachney, on Wednesday. Smith said Friday he could not yet release that name.

   Louisiana State Police is investigating the Mardis/Few shooting while Avoyelles Sheriff’s Office is handling the Lachney case, Smith said.

Smith said Marksville has enough police officers still on duty “to protect the city and its citizens. If necessary, we can get help from the other agencies in the parish.”