Shooting of Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr.

On November 22, 2018, Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr., an African-American man, was shot three times from behind and killed by Hoover police on the night of Thanksgiving, at the Riverchase Galleria shopping mall in Hoover, Alabama.[3][3] Police responded to a shooting at the mall where two people were shot.[4] Another African-American man suspected in the first shooting was arrested in Georgia a week later and charged in the shooting of one of those injured. Bradford was holding a legally owned weapon when shot and was not involved in the prior shooting incident, although near the crime scene.[5][6] The shooting of Bradford was immediately controversial, and was condemned by the Alabama National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as an example of racially biased policing.[7]

Shooting of Emantic Bradford
DateNovember 22, 2018 (2018-11-22)
Time9:52 PM local time
LocationRiverchase Galleria, Hoover, Alabama
Coordinates33.3805351°N 86.8098851°W / 33.3805351; -86.8098851
Also known asE.J.
CauseGun-shot wounds to the head, neck, and back. (Independent autopsy)
Filmed bypolice body camera, mall surveillance, private videos[1]
Participants
  • Erron Martez DeQuan Brown (20) (current suspect of 1st shooting)
  • Brian Xavier Wilson (18) (wounded in 1st shooting)
  • Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. (21) (deceased)
  • "Officer 1"
Deaths1; Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. (21)
Non-fatal injuries8;[2] Brian Xavier Wilson (18), Child (12), Unidentified woman (70), five unidentified people
BurialDecember 1, 2018
Inquiries
  • Hoover Police Department (initial)
  • Jefferson County Sheriff's Department
  • Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Coroner
  • Gregory Davis; Results of the initial autopsy have not been revealed.
  • Roger Mitchell; Independent autopsy found Bradford was hit three times from behind, with a fatal shot to the head.
Suspects
  • Erron Martez DeQuan Brown (20) (1st shooting)
Charges

Background

Emantic "EJ" Fitzgerald Bradford Jr., of Hueytown, Alabama, was 21 years old. He was born on June 18, 1997.[1] He attended Holy Family Cristo Rey High School in Birmingham and earned his diploma through the General Educational Development (GED) program.[8] Bradford had enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 and completed basic training, but was administratively separated in August 2018 before completing advanced individual training.[9] Bradford worked full-time and was a caretaker for his father, a former correctional officer, with cancer.[10]

Incident

On November 22, 2018, at approximately 9:52 PM local time, an altercation involving four people occurred near the Footaction and JCPenney stores on the second level of the mall.[11][2] One of the men - initially claimed to be Bradford and currently believed to be Erron Brown - reportedly drew a weapon and shot 18-year-old Brian Wilson twice, before fleeing the area. Stray gunfire also hit a 12-year-old girl bystander.[12] Within five seconds from Wilson the shots, two officers from the Hoover Police Department approached Bradford, who was armed. One of the officers immediately fired from behind at Bradford, who was running with gun in hand, and killed him.[3][13]

It subsequently transpired that Bradford's movements in the critical secconds were more complicated than originally thought.[14]

E.J. Bradford initially runs in the opposite direction (away from JC Penney),

creating a gap between himself and the gunshots. As he creates this gap, Bradford draws his

weapon and chambers a round. Bradford then charges back toward JC Penney, gun drawn.

— Report of Alabama Attorney General.[14]

Brian Wilson and the injured 12-year-old were taken to different hospitals; Wilson in serious condition with two gunshots to the torso and the 12-year-old in stable condition with a lodged bullet near her spine.[15] The mall was closed for the night.[15] The 12-year-old was found to have had a rib fractured in the initial shooting, but her spine was undamaged.[16] A 70-year-old woman had been injured by a fall while attempting to flee. She sustained multiple pelvic fractures, as well as internal bleeding and bleeding of the brain, and she was airlifted to Mobile.[17]

Investigation

The Hoover Police Department turned all video and other collected evidence to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, which subsequently turned the investigation over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. All three agencies initially refused to release videos of the event.[18]

During the investigation into the shooting, an additional gun was found in the "Santa's Village" portion of the Galleria. Doubt grew that Bradford was the initial shooter. In a press conference, Captain Rector of the Hoover Police Department stated that the initial shooter would need to be determined by the investigation into that shooting. Captain Rector also stated that they believe the initial altercation may have more people involved than originally suspected, and clarified that a separate investigation by the Hoover Police Department would occur for the police shooting.[15] Late in the evening, the Hoover Police Department issued a correction saying that Bradford was not the shooter.[19][20] They said the shooter was not in custody. Furthermore, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency took over as lead investigator of the shootings.[21]

A suspect in the initial shooting, Erron Martez Dequan Brown, was arrested by U.S. Marshals at a relative's home in Fairburn, Georgia, on November 29. He was charged with the attempted murder of Wilson.[22][23]

On February 5, 2019, the Office of the Attorney General of Alabama released a report of its review of the evidence regarding the police shooting. They determined that "Officer 1", as he was referred to in the report, "identified E.J. Bradford as an immediate deadly threat to innocent civilians and thus shot Bradford to eliminate the threat," and therefore, that he, "did not commit a crime under Alabama law when he shot and killed E.J. Bradford and thus the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct preclude presentation of this case to a grand jury."[24] The report was strongly criticised by Bradford's family.[23]

Aftermath

The mall reopened the day after the shooting at 6 AM, and the two officers who were involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.[13] When it was reported that the 21-year-old deceased victim was not the perpetrator, the family of the victim raised demands that the Hoover, Alabama Mayor and Police Chief step down.[25]

Protests were organized by a Birmingham activist group called Justice League on the following Saturday. Protesters also called for a boycott of the Galleria.[26][27][28][29]

On November 26, 2018, a protest gathered outside Hoover City Hall, calling for the Hoover Police Department to release video from the police body cameras and mall surveillance cameras for public review. The protestors then shut down U.S. Highway 31, carrying signs reading "Black Lives Matter", "Justice for EJ", and "Justice starts with the truth", as they marched to the Riverchase Galleria, the site of the shooting.[30] Additional protests throughout the city of Hoover were organized in the following weeks in areas including but not limited to multiple shopping areas, public interstates, and private residences of Hoover City Officials occurred in the following weeks, some resulting in the arrest of participants.[31]

Family of Bradford

The family of Bradford hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump.[32] Additionally, the Alabama chapter of the NAACP issued a press release condemning the "extreme and excessive police force."[33] At a press conference in Birmingham, Benjamin Crump claimed that witnesses to both shootings described the responding officers as not revealing that they were undercover officers nor that they gave any orders to people nearby before shooting Bradford. He also stated that Bradford was trying to clear the area when the officers reached the scene of the initial shooting and that they prevented Bradford from receiving aid for a gunshot wound to the face. It was claimed that the gun on Bradford was not in his hands, but attached to his pants.[34]

According to various members of Bradford's family, no one from the Hoover Police Department informed them of his death. In addition, they were not provided with any details of the police shooting until the November 28 meeting.[35] One of Bradford's relatives called for the resignation of both Chief Derzis and Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato for their actions shortly after Bradford's death.[36]

A meeting between the family of Bradford and Mayor Brocato, Chief Derzis, and Councilman Derrick Murphy occurred on November 28. The city leaders apologized to the Bradford family for the shooting and answered what questions they could regarding the events.[35]

A vigil for Bradford was held on November 29 at the Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham.[37] A funeral for Bradford was set for December 1 at the Boutwell Memorial Auditorium with Reverend Jesse Jackson to speak.[38]

A "preliminary anatomical review" was planned on November 29 for the following day to determine the number of shots that hit Bradford and whether Bradford was hit from the front or from behind.[39] At a press conference on December 3, Crump was joined by attorneys Rodney Barganier and Frankie Lee in revealing the results of the independent autopsy. The review concluded that Bradford was shot three times from behind while he was running. The locations of the shots were to the right side of the head, the base of the neck, and the right portion of the hip. The bullets all entered from an upward angle and the shot to the head was the fatal shot, entering from the back right of the head and exiting above the left eye.[1]

Hoover city

The Hoover City Council gave the ALEA until noon on 3 December to make a decision regarding the release of information pertaining to Bradford's shooting. Had the deadline passed without comment, Chief Derzis would have decided for the council if the information would have been released without the ALEA.[40] Derzis revealed on the 3rd that the ALEA had asked city leaders to not reveal critical information while the investigation was in progress.[2]

On 6 December it was revealed that the ALEA had had a meeting with Bradford's family, attorneys for the family, and district attorneys Danny Carr and Lyniece Washington. Part of the meeting allowed those present to view a portion of the footage of Bradford being shot. The meeting was allowed provided that specific evidence not be publicly shared or detailed.[41] A Justice for E.J. Community Forum was held with members from the Nation of Islam and Black Lives Matter, among others, at the Muhammad Mosque in Birmingham.[42]

The city additionally postponed a Christmas tree lighting ceremony that was to take place on 29 November due to threats that the lighting would be protested.[43] A fourth protest occurred at the AMC Patton Creek movie theater on 2 December.[2]

References
  1. Hrynkiw, Ivana (3 December 2018). "E.J. Bradford shot in the back, attorneys say: What we learned from the private autopsy". Al.com.
  2. Robinson, Carol (3 December 2018). "Hoover will not release mall shooting video, details due to request from state investigators". Al.com.
  3. Shah, Khushbu (3 December 2018). "EJ Bradford was shot three times from behind by officer, autopsy reveals". the Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  4. "Police kill gunman during Black Friday sales at Alabama mall; 2 hurt". NBC News. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  5. "Suspect in Alabama mall shooting arrested at relative's house in metro Atlanta". Ajc.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  6. "Mall shooting suspects agrees on return to Alabama". Sunherlad.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  7. "Alabama NAACP Strongly Condemns Hoover Police Shooting - Alabama State Conference of the NAACP" (PDF). Alnaacp.org. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  8. Reeves, Jay (November 27, 2018). "If Emantic 'E.J.' Bradford had been white, 'the whole scenario would have played out differently,' mom says". USA Today. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  9. Amir, Vera (November 27, 2018). "The Alabama man killed at a mall had a legal gun permit and was trying to help people, his family says". CNN. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  10. McLaughlin, Elliott C. (November 27, 2018). "As family demands to know why police killed man at Alabama mall, Hoover PD clarifies report he 'brandished' gun". CNN. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  11. Joe Sutton; Madeline Holcombe. "Gunman dead and 2 wounded -- including 12-year-old girl -- in Alabama mall shooting". CNN. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  12. "1 dead, 2 injured in Alabama mall shooting". ABC News. 2018-11-23. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  13. "Riverchase Galleria reopens after mall shooting leaves 2 injured, suspect dead". 6WBRC. November 23, 2018. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  14. https://www.alabamaag.gov/Documents/news/Hoover/Report.pdf
  15. ANDERSON, JON (23 November 2018). "Armed man killed by Hoover police at Riverchase Galleria was military man". HooverSun.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  16. "12-year-old shot at Riverchase Galleria 'hurting but brave,' mother says". Al.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  17. "Woman, 70, airlifted to Mobile with internal, brain bleeding from fall after Alabama mall shooting". Al.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  18. Bacon, John (November 26, 2018). "Emantic Bradford's gun 'heightened sense of threat' at Alabama mall before he was shot". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  19. "Black Man Killed by Officer in Alabama Mall Shooting Was Not the Gunman, Police Now Say". Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  20. "Riverchase Galleria Officer-involved Shooting Update - Hoover Police Dept on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  21. Madeline Holcombe; Faith Karimi. "Alabama mall gunman still at large after police say armed man killed by officer 'likely did not fire' shots". Cnn.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  22. Robinson, Carol (November 29, 2018). "Suspect in Alabama mall shooting captured by U.S. Marshals in Georgia". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
  23. "Alabama officer in mall shooting that killed 21-year-old, sparking protests, won't face charges". NBC News. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  24. Attorney General's Report Regarding the Officer-Involved Shooting Death of Emantic ('E.J.') Bradford, Jr. At the Riverchase Galleria on November 22, 2018 (PDF), Office of the Attorney General, State of Alabama, 2019-02-05, retrieved 2019-02-05
  25. Martin, Michael (November 25, 2018). "Alabama Police Now Say Black Man Killed By Officer Wasn't The Gunman In Mall Shooting". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  26. "The Alabama Thanksgiving Mall Shooting Suspect Is Still At Large". Uproxx.com. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  27. "'They killed him for no reason,' says aunt of 21-year-old shot dead at mall". ABC News. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  28. "Protesters call for boycott after Alabama mall shooting, demand release of body cam footage". Al.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  29. "Alabama mall shooting: Officer killed the wrong man, officials say". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
  30. "Demonstrators shut down highway in protest of fatal police shooting". ABC News. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  31. Beahm, Anna (November 26, 2018). "Riverchase Galleria shooting: Protesters shut down highway, march to mall". Alabama.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  32. "Family of man killed by police in Alabama mall shooting hires civil rights attorney". Al.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  33. "Alabama NAACP Strongly Condemns Hoover Police Shooting - Alabama State Conference of the NAACP" (PDF). Alnaacp.org. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  34. "Police 'saw young black man with a gun' and shot him, father says after Galleria police killing". Al.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  35. "Hoover officials apologize to E.J. Bradford's family for saying he was shooter". Al.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  36. "Parents of man killed at Alabama mall 'outraged' by police treatment". ABC News. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  37. "Dozens gather to mourn E.J. Bradford's death, promote peace". Al.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  38. "Galleria shooting: Jesse Jackson to deliver E.J. Bradford's eulogy". Al.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  39. Highsmith, Jordan (30 November 2018). "Bradford family, Attorney Ben Crump hires pathologist to perform autopsy". Cbs42.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  40. ANDERSON, JON (29 November 2018). "Hoover asks state for permission to release information about police shooting at Galleria". Hooversun.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  41. Simmons, Emma (6 December 2018). "Mall shooting video 'consistent with' forensic exam, Bradford family lawyer says". WSET.com.
  42. Anderson, Jon (6 December 2018). "Groups join forces to bolster police shooting protest, call for 'war' against Hoover". Hoover Sun.
  43. ANDERSON, JON (28 November 2018). "Hoover postpones Christmas tree lighting after threats of protest due to police shooting". Hooversun.com. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
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