An Alabama police officer who shot and killed a 21-year-old man on Thanksgiving night at a mall outside of Birmingham will not face charges.
State Attorney General Steve Marshall announced on Tuesday that his investigation into the incident has determined that the officer did not break the law and will therefore not be charged in the death of Emantic “E.J.” Bradford Jr.
According to NBC News, the attorney general’s report found that the officer-who has not been identified- was responding to a shooting in the Riverchase Galleria Mall in Hoover, when he mistakenly believed that Bradford was the suspected gunman that fired the shots and because of this was justified in shooting him. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The officer claimed he saw Bradford running toward the shooting scene with a gun and surmised that he was trying to kill the shooting victim.
The report further stated that the officer “reasonably exercised his official powers, duties, or functions when he shot E.J. Bradford on the night of November 22, 2018,” and declared his action “justified and not criminal.”
Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Bradford family, said that the officers, in the attorney general’s report, said that they did not give Bradford any verbal warnings before opening fire. Meanwhile, Bradford’s father called the attorney general “a coward” for the report’s findings.
“My son was murdered. And you think I’m going to let it go?,” Emantic Sr. told reporters Tuesday. “That was a homicide … You killed my son. You are a coward. You’re a coward too, Steve Marshall.”
In the meantime, protests have erupted in Hoover, since the shooting and again on Tuesday evening, after the announcement of the attorney general’s decision. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Demonstrators took to the streets burning American flags that were spray painted with the words “BLACK LIVES DON’T MATTER,” outside of Hoover City Hall as police officers looked on.
