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(AP) – Alabama police expressed condolences Monday to the family of a black man killed by an officer who had shot at a mall, but said his handgun "reinforced the feeling of threat "to the police an already chaotic scene.
Hoover police originally described his officer as "heroic" for shooting down Emantic "EJ" Bradford Jr. after two people were injured at the Riverchase Galleria mall near Birmingham on Thanksgiving night. They then retracted, claiming that he was probably not the gunman responsible for the initial shooting, which is still on the run.
The family's attorney said that witnesses had told them that Bradford was trying to help putting people safe, and that he had been shot down "in milliseconds" by an officer who was not he had not said a word to him.
"It does not matter if you're a good guy with a gun, if you're black, the police shoot you, kill you and ask questions later," Ben Crump's lawyer told CNN on Monday. One of the many appearances in the national media with Bradford's Parents.
Police and the city of Hoover released Monday more detailed statements about the shooting and the investigation. They said Bradford "had a gun in his hand while the police reacted to the active shooter situation between mall clients".
"We can say with certainty that Mr. Bradford waved a firearm in the seconds following the shots, which immediately heightened the sense of threat to approaching officers responding to the chaotic scene. ", the statement said.
They then clarified the use of the word "brandish" by saying that it meant Bradford was holding a firearm.
"We are deeply and sincerely sympathetic to the mourning family of Mr. Bradford and all those affected by this incident, we all want answers and we think that with patience and concentration, the truth will be firmly established, "the statement said.
Bradford's parents said that they wanted to see a video with a body camera and Crump explored the family's options.
"We do not trust the police department because he's already lied to them." They published his picture around the world saying that he was the shooter and that the policeman was a hero, "he said. Crump said.
According to Monday's police statement, "a video with a body camera and other available videos were immediately handed over to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department as part of the investigation. Evidence has now been given to the Alabama Police Agency (ALEA) to conduct the investigation. The broadcast of any video will be conducted as the FTAA deems appropriate during the course of the investigation. of the investigation. "
ALEA said Monday that the results of the investigation would be handed over to the prosecutor's office.
The shootout sparked a weekend protest at the mall, with protesters chanting Bradford's name as they walked past Christmas shoppers to where he had been killed. The city and police on Monday promised transparency and announced that they would start offering weekly updates to the media and the public.
Bradford's father, a former long-time employee of the Birmingham Police Department, said his son was allowed to carry a concealed handgun. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, issuing concealed carry permits, asked ALEA if Bradford had a license to carry a concealed handgun.
The code of conduct posted on the Riverchase Galleria website states that firearms and illegal weapons are prohibited.
Family members expressed their frustration and anger at the fact that the young man was initially presumed to be the shooter during the incident.
"I knew my son did not do that, people rushed to judge, they should not have done it," said Emantic Bradford Sr. at the Associated Press.
Police also expressed sympathy for the family of the 18-year-old man and the 12-year-old girl who had been injured in the first shootings and said they "were pursuing the initial shooter. who is always on the run.
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