CHICAGO, (AFP) -- Two law enforcement officers were arrested on charges of murder and attempted murder Friday over the fatal shooting of a six-year-old boy in the US state of Louisiana, authorities said.

The death of Jeremy Mardis will add to growing criticism in some quarters about perceived brutality in US police forces after several high-profile incidents in the last year.

Marshals Norris Greenhouse and Derrick Stafford were placed on administrative leave after the vehicle chase on Tuesday that also left the boy's father -- who was driving -- critically injured.

Chris Few's young son was killed after Marksville Police opened fire, reportedly hitting the boy several times.

"He didn't deserve to die like that and that's what's important," Colonel Michael Edmonson of Louisiana State Police told a press conference. Citing 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."