AG Steve Marshall clears Hoover officer in fatal Thanksgiving mall shooting
A Hoover police officer was justified in the fatal shooting of Emantic Bradford Jr. at the Riverchase Galleria on Thanksgiving, the Alabama Attorney General’s office announced Tuesday. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation made the conclusion the officer did not commit a crime under Alabama law and thus will not be criminally charged for his actions. Marshall further noted it was his understanding that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had also reviewed the matter and found no evidence to initiate a case against the officer for civil rights violation(s). “After an extensive investigation and review, the Attorney General has determined Officer 1 did not commit a crime under Alabama law when he shot and killed E.J. Bradford and thus the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct preclude presentation of this case to a grand jury,” the report reads. “The facts of this case demonstrate that Officer 1 reasonably exercised his official powers, duties, or functions when he shot E.J. Bradford,” the report continues. “Officer 1’s actions were reasonable under the circumstances and were consistent with his training and nationally-accepted standards for ‘active shooter’ scenarios.” Marshall also released surveillance video of the incident: Read the full report below:
Authorities arrest suspect in Thanksgiving shooting at Hoover mall where police killed man they thought was shooter
The Latest on a Thanksgiving night shooting at a mall in Alabama (all times local): 11:30 p.m. Authorities say they have arrested a suspect in a Thanksgiving night shooting at an Alabama shopping mall where police killed a man they thought was the shooter. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says 20-year-old Erron Martez Dequan Brown of Bessemer was charged with attempted murder in the Nov. 22 shooting at the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover. Inspector Frank Lempka with the U.S. Marshals in Atlanta said Brown was arrested Thursday morning at a relative’s home in South Fulton, just outside of Atlanta. Lempka said Brown was taken to the Fulton County jail for an extradition hearing to be sent back to Alabama. Emantic “EJ” Bradford Jr. was killed by an officer responding to the report of a mall shooting. Police said Bradford had a gun, and they initially blamed him for opening fire. They later retracted that allegation. ___ 10 a.m. Leaders of an Alabama city that’s been the target of protests since police shot and killed a black man in a shopping mall are asking the state for permission to release more information about the killing. Hoover city officials made the request during an appearance Thursday. They say they’ll look at releasing information on their own if no response comes by noon Monday. Demonstrators and relatives of Emantic “EJ” Bradford Jr. have pushed authorities to release video and other evidence. Bradford was killed by an officer responding to a report of a mall shooting on Thanksgiving. The state is investigating and so far has refused to release video and other information about the killing. A spokesman for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Hoover city leaders meet following police shooting
Leaders of an Alabama city are meeting behind closed doors following the shooting death of a black man at a shopping mall. The Hoover City Council met publicly for about two minutes Tuesday before voting unanimously to go into executive session. Council President Gene Smith says the discussion is about the “legal ramifications” of impending litigation. Smith didn’t elaborate on any potential suit. But the session comes just five days after a Hoover police officer shot and killed a man inside Alabama’s largest shopping mall on Thanksgiving night. Relatives of the shooting victim, 21-year-old Emantic “EJ” Bradford Jr., have been represented by a civil rights lawyer since his death. A town hall and prayer meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening at 16th Street Baptist Church. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
