MARKSVILLE, La. (AP) – An attorney for one of two deputy city marshals charged in a shooting that killed a 6-year-old boy and wounded his father says the child’s father was suicidal and had drugs in his system at the time of the deadly encounter.

Derrick Stafford’s attorney, Jonathan Goins, told a judge Wednesday the father’s state of mind at the time of the November 2015 shooting will be a crucial element of Stafford’s trial defense.

Stafford and the other deputy, Norris Greenhouse Jr., have pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

They were arrested after the shooting that killed Jeremy Mardis and wounding his father, Chris Few.

State Police have said the deputies opened fire on Few’s car following a pursuit. The boy was in the front seat.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.