The City of Hoover and the Hoover Police Department issued a joint statement on Monday morning, affirming their commitment to transparency in the wake of the Thanksgiving night Riverchase Galleria shooting and sharing that body camera and other video footage had immediately been turned over to outside investigators.
Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford, a 21-year-old from Hueytown, was killed by a Hoover Police officer in the aftermath of a 12-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male being shot at the crowded mall.
In their Monday statement, Hoover officials expressed that “[t]he loss of human life is a tragedy under any circumstances,” while confirming “with certainty Mr. Bradford brandished a gun during the seconds following the gunshots, which instantly heightened the sense of threat to approaching police officers responding to the chaotic scene.”
“Body camera video and other available video was immediately turned over to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department as part of the investigation. Now, all evidence has been handed over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to lead the investigation,” the statement continued, adding that the release of any footage to the public falls under ALEA’s purview.
The statement came after Bradford’s family hired a prominent civil rights attorney and held an emotional press conference on Sunday. Attorney Benjamin L. Crump has previously represented the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Tamir Rice.
“Black Lives Matter” protesting began in Hoover on Saturday, as well.
“We want everyone who lives in, works in, works for, or visits Hoover to know that we are a city that puts safety and respect in the highest regard for all citizens. We will be transparent throughout the course of this investigation,” the statement outlined.
The city and its police department will now issue weekly updates every Monday morning, with any urgent update still occurring as soon as possible.
The statement also reiterated that the true shooter is still at-large.
“We have certain information about this individual and ask the public to provide ALEA with any available details that may hasten an arrest,” the statement concluded.
In a press conference immediately following the incident on Thursday night, officials said the shooter had been killed, referring to Bradford.
However, subsequent witness interviews and forensic analysis by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, showed that Bradford “likely did not fire the rounds that injured the 18-year-old victim.”
This 18-year-old was reportedly involved in an altercation with the shooter before shots were fired. Officials have said that Bradford may have still been involved in some fashion in that altercation.
It is believed that the 12-year-old was unintentionally hit by the shooter of the 18-year-old, but this, as with all aspects of the shooting, will be fleshed out through ALEA’s investigation.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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