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6-year-old boy shot, killed during La. police chase

NEW ORLEANS — A 6-year-old Louisiana boy was killed and his father critically wounded when local police chased and shot at their vehicle Tuesday in Marksville, authorities said on Wednesday.

The Avoyelles Parish coroner identified the two as Chris Few and his autistic son, Jeremy Mardis, according to local media reports. 

Few was at Rapides Regional Medical Center hospital in nearby Alexandria, Louisiana.

Marshals from the city tried to serve an arrest warrant on Few, who was driving the vehicle with his son inside, when he fled in the car, said Chief Deputy Steve Martel of the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office.

However, Louisiana state police say they cannot find any warrant for Few, CBS News' David Begnaud reported on Friday.

Marksville police said Few led police on a short chase, which ended at a dead-end road.

Reports showed the marshals chased the vehicle and fired at it when the pursuit ended, said Trooper Scott Moreau of the Louisiana State Police.

CBS News said as many as 18 shots were fired at vehicle. Col. Michael Edmonson, head of the Louisiana State Police, said no weapon was found in Few's vehicle and no fire was returned at police.

Jeremony was struck by five bullets in the head and chest.

Megan Dixon told CBS News that she is engaged to Few.  She said the two had an argument in front of a pool hall that night. After they left in separate vehicles, she said Few stopped alongside her vehicle at a red light. She pulled around his car, she said, and then the police started to chase him.

Edmonson said until they speak to the officers involved, they don't know why they were pursuing him.

A preliminary investigation showed least three of the officers involved work for the Marksville Police Department and one works for the city marshal's office.

Reuters and CBS News contributed to this report.

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