Alabama governor backs withholding video of officer fatally shooting Black student
Ivey said she was confident 'the facts will prevail' when the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency completes its investigation into the June 23 shooting of Jabari Peoples by an officer with the Homewood Police Department.
'This case [is] a top priority, and I am confident they are working to efficiently get this done,' Ivey said in a statement Wednesday to NBC affiliate WVTM 13 in Birmingham.
Peoples, an aspiring police detective, was killed at a soccer complex where he was sitting in his parked car with his girlfriend. An officer approached his car around 9:30 p.m. because he said he smelled what seemed like marijuana.
Peoples' girlfriend, whose name has not been released, has denied he had a gun, said family attorney Ben Crump.
The officer, who has not been publicly identified, shot Peoples after he said Peoples reached for a gun in the pocket of his car door, according to the police department.
Peoples was shot in the back but there was no exit wound on his body and the bullet was not found inside him, according to an autopsy conducted by an independent medical examiner hired by his family.
An autopsy conducted by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office has not been released at the request of the state law enforcement agency.
The officer's body camera video documenting the shooting has become a crucial piece of evidence as Peoples' family and girlfriend dispute the department's version of events. The family, local leaders and many Homewood residents are demanding that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency release it.
State Rep. Kelvin Datcher, a Democrat who represents Homewood, said withholding the video undermines public confidence in law enforcement and tarnishes the integrity of the case.
'The point of having body camera footage is to ensure transparency for the community,' he said Thursday. 'There's an urgency for the family to get a look at that video.'
Protesters showed up to the Homewood City Council meeting this week calling for the video's release and threatening to boycott local businesses, with the idea that economic pressure might force leaders to change their position.
'We will host sit-ins, we will hold dine-ins and vigils through downtown at the doorstep of your businesses,' the Rev. Wayne Harris told the council, according to WVTM. 'Your commerce will feel our grief, and we will shut Homewood down for justice.'
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NBC News
5 hours ago
- NBC News
Alabama governor backs withholding video of officer fatally shooting Black student
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is supporting a state agency's refusal to release body camera footage in the fatal police shooting of an 18-year-old Black college freshman, saying the case must first be thoroughly investigated. Ivey said she was confident 'the facts will prevail' when the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency completes its investigation into the June 23 shooting of Jabari Peoples by an officer with the Homewood Police Department. 'This case [is] a top priority, and I am confident they are working to efficiently get this done,' Ivey said in a statement Wednesday to NBC affiliate WVTM 13 in Birmingham. Peoples, an aspiring police detective, was killed at a soccer complex where he was sitting in his parked car with his girlfriend. An officer approached his car around 9:30 p.m. because he said he smelled what seemed like marijuana. Peoples' girlfriend, whose name has not been released, has denied he had a gun, said family attorney Ben Crump. The officer, who has not been publicly identified, shot Peoples after he said Peoples reached for a gun in the pocket of his car door, according to the police department. Peoples was shot in the back but there was no exit wound on his body and the bullet was not found inside him, according to an autopsy conducted by an independent medical examiner hired by his family. An autopsy conducted by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office has not been released at the request of the state law enforcement agency. The officer's body camera video documenting the shooting has become a crucial piece of evidence as Peoples' family and girlfriend dispute the department's version of events. The family, local leaders and many Homewood residents are demanding that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency release it. State Rep. Kelvin Datcher, a Democrat who represents Homewood, said withholding the video undermines public confidence in law enforcement and tarnishes the integrity of the case. 'The point of having body camera footage is to ensure transparency for the community,' he said Thursday. 'There's an urgency for the family to get a look at that video.' Protesters showed up to the Homewood City Council meeting this week calling for the video's release and threatening to boycott local businesses, with the idea that economic pressure might force leaders to change their position. 'We will host sit-ins, we will hold dine-ins and vigils through downtown at the doorstep of your businesses,' the Rev. Wayne Harris told the council, according to WVTM. 'Your commerce will feel our grief, and we will shut Homewood down for justice.'
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Entitled outburst of drunk driving Dem lawmaker after smashing his huge SUV into parked car
A Massachusetts Democrat lawmaker has been arrested after he allegedly smashed his massive SUV into a parked car before trying to get away with it by reminding officers of his position. State Rep. John Lawn, 56, was arrested around 1:45am on Wednesday after witnesses said they saw him slam his GMC Yukon into a parked Toyota Tundra in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood before driving off. According to a Boston police report, after hitting the parked car, Lawn allegedly sped off through two stop signs around 1am, leaving the vehicle with a blown tire and deep scrapes along the side, a witness told cops. Police then tracked down the SUV nearby and identified the driver as Lawn, who they said had glassy, bloodshot eyes, was slurring his words, and appeared visibly unstable when he stepped out of the car. Officers said in their report that Lawn identified himself, saying: 'I am a state rep,' and claimed he had just come from an event at the State House. When asked to take a breathalyzer, the lawmaker allegedly refused. Instead, he boldly replied: 'You know what I'd rather do? I want to take an Uber and go home.' And when police asked whether he noticed the damage to his own vehicle, he reportedly responded: 'What damage?' After hitting the parked car (pictured, right), Lawn allegedly sped off through two stop signs around 1am, leaving the vehicle with a blown tire and deep scrapes along the side, a witness told cops Lawn also failed a series of field sobriety tests and was unable to give a urine sample once transported to the Nashua Street Jail, according to police. He even dropped his license and credit card onto the street. 'As the suspect stepped out of the vehicle, [the officer] noted that he had difficulty maintaining his balance,' the police report stated. 'As he attempted to retrieve his license from his wallet, he dropped his license and one of his credit cards on the ground.' Fragments of the bumper found at the scene of the crash were determined to match Lawn's SUV. A witness, Walter Thilly, said he heard a 'super loud bang.' 'I heard a super loud bang and just from experience I know that's usually a car accident,' Thilly told CBS News. 'I saw the car, like, kind of stuck to this white pickup truck right here. And it was almost like he was glued and then he kept trying to back out, back in, trying to get away. And then ended up just driving off.' Lawn now faces two misdemeanor charges: operating under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage. The case was continued without a finding at his court appearance Thursday, which means he may not be convicted if he meets certain conditions. Lawn released a statement on Wednesday shortly after the incident admitting his actions were 'completely unacceptable.' 'I deeply regret and take full responsibility for my actions. What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses. I am committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again,' he said. 'To my family, friends, and constituents, I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry.' He pleaded guilty on Thursday and was sentenced to a 45 day loss of his license, one year probation on the OUI and six months of probation on count the second charge.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Harrowing warning about police racism as 'lack of leadership courage' fears raised
A new report by the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board (ISOB) says the Home Office must clarify how the Government's Police Race Action Plan (PRAP) will continue beyond next year and said the Home Office must be 'hands on' Black police officers are experiencing a "worsening environment" - with some saying they have considered ending their own lives, a harrowing report warns. A "lack of leadership courage" means racist behaviour is becoming normalised, the National Black Police Association (NBPA) said. It comes amid growing questions about how chief constables will be held to account in tackling racism beyond next year. Official data shows continued racial disparities in stop and search, use of force and treatment of children. But four years after the Government's Police Race Action Plan (PRAP) was drawn up, a key watchdog said there are huge gaps in the progress forces are making. Abimbola Johnson, who chairs the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board (ISOB), called on the Government to clarify what happens when PRAP funding runs out in March. In the watchdog's report, the NBPA warns: "Disappointingly, rather than witnessing improvements, we are seeing a worsening environment for Black and ethnic minority officers and staff, alongside persistent racial disparities in policing outcomes." It said some chief constables are "resistant" to PRAP's aims - adding: "This lack of leadership courage undermines the integrity of the plan." Since 2020 the NBPA said it has heard about horrific racist messages and vile language not resulting in formal sanctions. It said: "Behind these incidents are real people, not just statistics. READ MORE: Massive data leak saw 100,000 Afghans put in danger as thousands brought to UK "We have supported colleagues who have considered ending theirown lives due to the organisation's failure to protect them or take racism seriously. These are not isolated anecdotes - they are symptoms of a deeper institutional complacency, and they must serve as awake-up call to everyone in leadership. "There is a clear and dangerous gap in current provisions." Since PRAP was introduced, forces have been required to bring in changes and keep records to raise confidence in the Black communities. But the ISOB warns that there is huge variation between forces, and records are not kept consistently. And it said that unless the Home Office makes a longer-term commitment to the plan, there are serious questions over anti-racism work beyond next year. After this point it will become the sole responsibility of local forces. The Home Office must take a more "hands on" approach, the ISOB says. Hightlighting the ongoing need for action, campaign group Just for Kids Law: "There continues to be significant racial disparity in relation to children's interaction with the police, with tensions and lack of trust exacerbated in recent years. "Racist narratives of 'aggression' and 'propensity to violence' follow Black children throughout the systems with which they engage. Consequently, Black children are often, construed as risks to the public and community and, not being afforded the notion of innocence due to perceptions of being older and, therefore, more responsible for their actions." The ISOB says an upcoming Maturity Matrix - a publicly-available dashboard tracking anti-racism delivery in England and Wales' 43 forces must not be delayed further. It says an acknowledgement of institutional racism in some places, including Avon and Somerset, had led to better training and accountability. Ms Johnson said: "We remain concerned by a lack of clarity about which police forces are meeting their objectives, and more importantly, insight into what enables or hinders their success." She said poor data collection is a "significant issue", and added the anti-racism plan has not been consistently pushed to achieve its potential. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dr Alison Heydari, PRAP programme director , said: 'Policing has made strides forward since the plan was launched. Black representation is up by 25 per cent among police officers, race disparity has fallen in a whole range of police powers, while the number of officers dismissed 'for discriminatory behaviour has quadrupled, reflecting our commitment at the outset of this plan to take a zero-tolerance approach to racism. 'However, I am under no illusion about the scale of the challenge. More must be done, especially as local forces take greater ownership of the plan from next year. " A Home Office spokesperson said: 'There is no space for racism and intolerance in our police, and we will always take pride in our forces being truly representative of the diverse communities they serve. 'We fully support the aims of the Police Race Action Plan, and are committed to working with police leaders to ensure necessary progress is made.'
