New Orleans district attorney, Marcus McNeil's family discuss murder conviction
The family of a fallen New Orleans police officer is reacting to the conviction of the man charged with murdering him.
Darren Bridges was convicted Tuesday night of first-degree murder. Bridges shot and killed Officer Marcus McNeil on Oct. 13, 2017, while he was working in New Orleans East.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams prosecuted the case himself and was joined Wednesday by McNeil's family and NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson at a news conference to discuss the conviction.
"The most difficult job in America today is policing," Williams said. "(Marcus McNeil) was murdered doing his job. He did his job right. He did it constitutionally. He did it fairly. The first person to draw their weapon that night was the defendant."
Dr. Kimberly McNeil told reporters that her son loved serving the community.
"Marcus was one of the most kind-hearted, genuine, thoughtful people," McNeil said. "He invested his entire self into his work, and I’m proud of him."
Bridges will receive a mandatory life sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder. He was also convicted of intent to distribute cocaine, possession charges, obstruction of justice and an attempted aggravated assault.
"I am so glad this trial is over, but unfortunately, the pain that is left for us to carry will go on forever," McNeil said.
Attorneys for Bridges tell WDSU that they plan to appeal.
He will be formally sentenced on Nov. 2, but under Louisiana law, the only options for a first-degree murder conviction are death by lethal injection or life in prison without the possibility of probation or parole. The death penalty was an option, but former District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro took that off the table in an effort to speed up the trial.
Ferguson promised McNeil's family that they will have the continued support of the NOPD.
"He meant a lot to this department, and we will never ever forget Milk Dud," Ferguson said. "That is why we’re here today and as Dr. McNeil just stated, we will be here as long as they need us to be here with them."
Marcus McNeil was nicknamed Milk Dud after being called that by a person he was arresting. Family members and coworkers say he thought the title was funny so he kept it.
"The New Orleans Police Department needs hundreds of more Marcus McNeils. He was a gold standard for how to treat people," Williams said.