The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is in possession of body-worn camera footage that caught a deadly officer-involved shooting in Homewood.
The Homewood Police Department said the incident on Monday night ended with one man dead. According to the department, the officer shot the suspect because he feared for his life.
The veteran police officer was patrolling the Homewood Soccer Complex parking lot, located off Lakeshore Drive, around 9:30 p.m. Police reported an increase in criminal activity in and around athletic complexes.
When the officer noticed two people sitting in a vehicle, he approached the vehicle and said he smelled the odor of marijuana. Police said the officer ordered the occupants out of the vehicle. When the driver, identified as Jabari Peoples, exited, the officer saw Peoples had a gun in the door of the car.
As the officer attempted to arrest Peoples for unlawful possession of marijuana and possibly other charges, the suspect knocked the officer to the ground and retrieved the gun. That's when the officer fired one shot, striking Peoples.
The other subject fled into the woods but came back after Peoples was shot. The officer called for backup and medics.
"Backup officers arrived within one minute and thirty-six seconds after the officer's request for assistance and immediately began rendering medical treatment to Mr. Peoples," police said in a statement. "While emergency aid was being rendered, the involved officer secured the other occupant in the back of his marked Homewood Police unit."
Peoples was transported to UAB Hospital, where he died.
The officer was treated on the scene by medics.
"The details surrounding this incident are clearly captured on the officer's body worn camera, of which ALEA took possession," police stated. "Arrangements are being made to coordinate viewing of the video by Mr. Peoples' family."
In an official statement, the family of Peoples said police did not contact them about the death. They said they found out the next morning by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. The family said that by that time, an autopsy had been performed on his body without the family’s consent.
The family claims Peoples was not armed, not aggressive and that he did not resist.
“He was approached by an individual in an unmarked vehicle, with no lights, no sirens, and no visible identification,” the family stated.
Police said the officer was driving a marked Homewood police vehicle.
The family is demanding the release of the police report, all video of the incident, identification of the officer involved and a full, independent investigation.
“We will pursue this case until the truth is fully exposed and justice is served — not only for Jabari, but for every family who’s been forced to bury a loved one without answers,” the family stated.
The Homewood Police Department stated that it is unable to release the body-worn camera footage, as ALEA is the only authorized agency to release it.
"This sequence of events, resulting in the loss of life, is tragic and we empathize with Mr. Peoples' family as they grieve," police added.
The name of the officer involved has not been released.
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