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.
Bob Weir, guitarist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has died at 78
For three decades with the Grateful Dead and three more after the group ended following the 1995 death of his bandmate Jerry Garcia, Weir helped build and sustain the band's legacy across generations.
Nationwide anti-ICE protests call for accountability after Renee Good’s death
Activist organizations are planning at least 1,000 protests and vigils this weekend. Officials in major cities cast Saturday's demonstrations as largely peaceful.
Veteran actor T.K. Carter, known for ‘The Thing’ and ‘Punky Brewster,’ dies at 69
T.K. Carter gained fame as Nauls the cook in John Carpenter's 1982 horror classic, "The Thing."
Who is Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Crown Prince encouraging demonstrations across Iran?
In exile for nearly 50 years, Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has issued calls urging Iranians to join protests sweeping the country. But support for him may not be clear cut.
US launches new retaliatory strikes against ISIS in Syria after deadly ambush
The U.S. has launched another round of strikes against the Islamic State in Syria. This follows last month's ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian interpreter.
6 killed in Mississippi shooting rampage, authorities say
The alleged gunman, 24, has been charged with murder after the Friday shootings in northeast Mississippi. The victims include his father, uncle, brother and a 7-year-old relative, authorities said.
