With all of the emotion surrounding the death of Emantic “E.J.” Bradford, it can be hard to distinguish established fact from misinformation given the prevalence of social media. However, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), which is handling the Riverchase Galleria shooting investigation, and the Hoover Police Department have put out statements trying to keep people informed.
Governor Kay Ivey and Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato also commented on the ongoing investigation on Monday, expressing their sympathy for Bradford’s family and that the investigative process needs to be allowed to happen in a fair and thorough manner.
“It’s a tragic situation, SBI has taken over the case, they’re working it, stay tuned,” Ivey told CBS 42.
The State Bureau of Investigation is the division of ALEA running the investigation.
“SBI is going to handle the situation and respond accordingly,” Ivey added.
Brocato, while speaking to the press, said, “We all want answers, and we believe that with patience and focus, the truth will be firmly established. We have to trust the justice process, and we plead your patience in that.”
This came after he extended his “deepest sympathy and thoughts” to Bradford’s family.
Brocato emphasized, “We are deeply and sincerely sympathetic to the family and friends of Mr. Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford, Jr.”
Hoover PD Updates
After their initial update on Monday, the Hoover Police Department issued another update in conjunction with the city, confirming that Bradford had a gun in his hand when he was shot by a Hoover Police officer.
The department said that it is “actively meeting, communicating and complying with ALEA and the entire investigation team.”
They added, “We all want answers and we believe that with patience and focus, the truth will be firmly established.”
“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. Release of any video will be done as ALEA deems appropriate during the investigation,” the initial statement explained.
— Hoover Police Dept (@HooverPD) November 26, 2018
ALEA Update
Later that day, ALEA issued a statement of its own, mostly confirming the circumstances of how they became involved in the case.
The statement concluded, “Once the SBI completes its investigation, the file in its entirety will be turned over to the Tenth Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. SBI does not release information in relation to ongoing/pending investigations.”
The Tenth Judicial Circuit means Jefferson County District Attorney Mike Anderton’s office in this case, which will soon become Danny Carr’s office.
The statement outlined, “D.A. Anderton requested ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) take the lead in an officer-involved shooting involving Hoover Police Department, as well as a shooting that occurred prior to the officer-involved incident at the same location. The request was submitted collaboratively by the D.A., Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale, Sheriff-Elect Mark Pettway and Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis to ensure an independent and transparent investigation by an outside agency with Hoover PD’s full cooperation.”
ALEA noted, “SBI is not mandated to investigate all officer-involved shootings across the state. Agents do so upon request for assistance.”
Anyone with information concerning the shooting or the shooter (who is still at-large) is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama at 205-254-7777 or email a tip here.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
