Protesters Demand Justice for Man Killed by Hoover Police
Emotions ran high during a protest at the Riverchase Galleria Saturday afternoon as demonstrators demanded justice for 21-year-old Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. Bradford was shot and killed by a Hoover Police officer after a shooting that injured two others Thanksgiving night. Investigators now say it’s likely Bradford was not the shooter.
The protest, organized by Carlos Chaverst Jr., began outside of Macy’s and moved throughout the mall. Protesters chanted “no justice, no peace,” urging bystanders to spend their dollars elsewhere. Demonstrators paused for “a moment of silence” when they approached the spot where Bradford was shot and killed on the second floor outside of JC Penny’s.
Bradford’s aunt, Brenda Joyce-Bradford is still in disbelief. She learned of her nephew’s death through social media. “I can’t believe it” she says. “I can’t believe this happened on Thanksgiving.”
As protesters disbursed, many asked “what’s next?” They questioned the leadership of Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis and demanded the name of the officer who fatally shot Bradford. Dervis and other police officials initially said Bradford was the man who shot and wounded an 18-year-old and a 12-year-old, but on Friday issued a statement saying their initial assessment was wrong. “Over the past 20 hours, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigators and crime scene technicians have interviewed numerous individuals and examined several critical evidentiary items,’’ Dervis said in a statement. “New evidence now suggests that while Mr. Bradford may have been involved in some aspect of the altercation, he likely did not fire the rounds that injured the 18-year-old victim.“
Bradford’s family has hired national civil rights attorney Ben Crump. Crump has handled several high-profile civil rights cases, including those involving the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.
The investigation is being handled by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
A federal jury finds Milwaukee judge guilty of obstructing immigration agents
A jury returns a guilty/not guilty verdict in the case of Hannah Dugan. The Milwaukee judge was accused of allowing an undocumented immigrant defender to evade immigration agents
Suspect in Brown University shooting found dead in New Hampshire
The suspect in the shooting at Brown University Saturday was discovered dead Thursday at a storage facility in New Hampshire.
TikTok signs deal to give U.S. operations to Oracle-led investor group
The agreement aims to resolve a yearslong standoff between the popular social media platform and the U.S. government over national security concerns tied to China's parent company, ByteDance.
A family reunion to commemorate the Montgomery Bus Boycott
This month marked the 70th anniversary of the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott. The demonstration was catalyzed when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus. The boycott lasted over a year and is considered a spark of the Civil Rights Movement.
President Trump to add his own name to the Kennedy Center
The arts institution will be called the Trump-Kennedy Center. The president's press secretary said it comes after a unanimous vote by the center's board, which Trump took over earlier this year.
Mangione pre-trial hearing wraps, but judge won’t rule on evidence for months
After three weeks of testimony, a judge will now rule on whether evidence found in Mangione's backpack can be used in his state trial for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
