Huntsville media have refused to air the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency body cam footage in the shooting death of Stephen Perkins in Decatur. However, many outlets, including WAFF, WHNT, FOX 54 and others, rushed to publish the neighbor's security camera and ring doorbell footage as soon as possible when it was initially released.
According to WAAY, demonstrators met at Decatur City Hall to express their disgust with what they saw in that leaked video. They said they’re glad the video was leaked, but now they have more questions than answers.
NAACP Morgan County chapter president Rodney Gordon said that seeing the leaked video was disturbing.
“We are reviving the protest. It’s not over. It means justice has not been served. Society has to become compassionate for somebody,” said Gordon.
Protesters marched up Sixth Avenue in Decatur more fired up than ever after seeing the leaked video according to reports. They feel Perkins wasn’t given enough time to comply with police commands. Gordon said he had more questions.
WAAY 31 also said it decided not to air the video or show it online. However, the outlet did release the neighbor's video footage of the shooting along with the other Huntsville media outlets.
FOX54 has said it is not posting the video, linking to it or naming the online news outlet that posted it. However, the outlet also released the neighbor's video of the shooting.
WHNT said that it had asked ALEA if the agency had released the video publicly, and a spokesman for ALEA said they did not. They also denied WHNT's request for access to the video, and they had not obtained the rights to post or air the footage. They were also the only outlet to admit to previously using the neighbor's video, saying that up to today, the only widespread release of video from the shooting was from Perkins’ neighbor’s security camera.
That video, which News 19 has repeatedly shown, is across the street from where the new bodycam footage shows the deadly shooting.
Each of the outlets referenced a temporary gag order placed on those involved in the case until the full case can be heard in April, citing that the release of the ALEA video could taint a jury pool. However, this video has been a bridge the Huntsville media are refusing to cross even after releasing the neighbor's camera video showing the shooting, interviewing neighbors and publishing their comments about what occurred.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email Bradley.cox@1819news.com or on Twitter @BradleyCoxAL.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
