Family of teen shot by police retains lawyer

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The family of a DeKalb County teen who was accidentally shot by police has retained legal representation with The Cochran Firm.

Meanwhile, in the calm of his Grady Hospital room, 16-year-old Marquez Redden is counting his blessings.

"He is very blessed and thankful to still have the arm. He just doesn't know to what extent he'll be able to use it," said attorney Sherrie Brady.

After a couple of surgeries, the teen's arm is held steady with rods. Redden is only able to wiggle two or three fingers so far. More surgeries are likely.

"If there's anyone to be held accountable for Marquez being shot, then they want them to be held accountable," Brady told Channel 2's Wendy Corona.

The DeKalb County Police Department is calling the shooting of the unarmed teenager an accident. It happened when Redden was skipping school back on Sept. 3 and crossed paths with an active police search for burglars involved in a home invasion on Leisure Springs Circle, in Decatur.

"This was an unintentional discharge on the part of one of our officers," said DeKalb Police Chief Cedric Alexander.

Redden's attorney stated on behalf of her client, "Marquez doesn't feel that it was unintentional."

She went on to explain that Redden ran from police, thinking he'd be in trouble for truancy. When he realized the seriousness of the situation, he surrendered from a shed he was hiding in.

"Marquez was unarmed and absolutely not a threat, and Marquez is left living with this accident, that they're calling it, for the rest of his life," said Brady.

Doctors tell the Redden family that he faces at least one more surgery and one more week in the hospital.

The officer who shot Redden is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

WSBTV