Two Louisiana officers are to be charged with murder after the fatal shooting of 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis.

Jeremy David Mardis and his father, Chris Few, were in a car when they were shot in Marksville on November 3.

Officers Norris Greenhouse and Derrick Stafford were arrested after a vehicle chase that left Chris Few, who was driving, critically injured.

Jeremy Mardis died at the scene and Chris Few remains in hospital.

The two officers were arrested on November 6 after body-camera footage taken from them was assessed.

It is still unclear what led them to pursue Chris Few and what triggered the shooting.

Both were working secondary jobs in Marksville as marshals when the shooting happened, Col. Michael Edmonson of Louisiana state police told a news conference.

“He [Jeremy Mardis] didn’t deserve to die like that and that’s what’s important,” Col. Michael Edmonson said.

Referring to the body-camera footage of the incident, he added: “I can tell you, it is the most disturbing thing I’ve seen, and I’ll leave it like that.”

Norris Greenhouse and Derrick Stafford have been charged with murder and attempted murder over the shooting.

Chris Few’s stepfather, Morris German, said that Jeremy Mardis was a delightful child who “loved everything, everybody”, the AP news agency reported.

Jeremy Mardis, who had been diagnosed with autism, had no siblings, Morris German said.