Protesters gathered Tuesday outside the DoubleTree Hotel in Decatur, where Gov. Kay Ivey spoke at the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Update.
Ivey's speech was about economic development, but the protesters were there concerning the shooting death of Stephen Perkins.
Officers shot the 39-year-old after the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said he brandished a firearm during an interaction with Decatur Police officers.
A security camera across the street captured some of the incident.
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Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion handed the investigation over to ALEA. In a video press release, he called the death unfortunate.
"I have full confidence in the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and will respect their findings when their investigation is complete," said Pinion. "I ask for your patience while the investigative process is complete."
However, protesters are not being patient because they say they want answers. They believe the man's truck was being illegally repossessed.
"I'm trying to understand this right," Marcus Allen posted on Facebook. "So, a tow truck pulls up to a man house, the man comes out the house with his gun (as he should); and tells the guy to put his truck down and gets killed. Reports state the man car wasn't even up for repossession. THIS MAN WAS WOKE UP OUT HIS SLEEP, TOTALLY IN THE RIGHT AND LOSES HIS LIFE... THIS IS THE CAMERA FROM A NEIGHBORS HOUSE, AFTER THE POLICE LIED IN HIS INITIAL STATEMENT. THIS IS CRAZY.......JUSTICE FOR STEPHEN PERKINS."
Pinion said body cam footage has been handed over to ALEA. ALEA will present findings to the Morgan County District Attorney's Office.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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