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.
Alabama carries out nation’s third nitrogen gas execution on a man for a hitchhiker’s killing
Carey Dale Grayson was executed at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in southern Alabama. He was one of four teenagers convicted of killing Vickie DeBlieux as she hitchhiked through the state on the way to her mother’s home in Louisiana.
You can sword-fight at this club. But no politics allowed
At the Pittsburgh Sword Fighters club, members are asked to leave their politics at the door, a rule that has led to closer relationships and more learning from one another.
How will China impact the future of climate change? You might be surprised
As a new Trump administration signals a retreat on climate action, China is stepping up. China is the biggest producer of climate technologies like electric vehicles and solar panels.
More than 100,000 pounds of ground beef are recalled for possibly having E. coli
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture alerted federal authorities about several illnesses in the past week.
President-elect set to shape ‘Trump judiciary’ for next generation
Legal experts predict President-elect Donald Trump will move quickly next year to cement and extend his legacy in appointing federal judges.
Mama Stamberg’s relish faces its toughest critics: NPR staffers
Susan Stamberg returns with her annual love letter to the pink pile of Thanksgiving mush known as Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish.
