Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey speaks on Jabari Peoples case amid demands for footage of fatal police shooting to be released

HOMEWOOD, Ala. (WIAT) — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has weighed in on the case surrounding an 18-year-old man who was killed during an interaction with a police officer in Homewood, as well as the community’s growing demand for the officer’s body camera footage of the shooting to be released.

Peoples died June 22 at UAB Hospital, less than an hour after being shot in the back by an officer with the Homewood Police Department during an interaction the department described as an “altercation.” The department has maintained that Peoples was shot after he reportedly reached for a gun during the encounter, despite no evidence of a gun being given.

Peoples’ family and their attorney’s Ben Crump and Leroy Maxwell, the attorneys representing Peoples’ family, have urged Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to release the body camera footage. They have since filed a petition to sue the city of Homewood and the officer involved in the shooting. Homewood Mayor Alex Wyatt has urged ALEA to release the footage, citing that they are the legal custodian of all evidence.

A 2023 state law that governs the release of police recordings says an agency may choose to not disclose the recording if it would impact an active law enforcement investigation.

“ALEA reviewed the request and determined disclosure of the requested recording would affect the ongoing investigation,” the state agency said in the email.

On Wednesday, Gov. Ivey released the following statement:

“The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has made this case a top priority, and I am confident they are working to efficiently get this done. As soon as their investigation is complete, the body camera footage will be turned over to the local district attorney who will be able to show it to the family and whoever else he deems appropriate. It is important ALEA carefully and thoughtfully work this case, and I am confident the facts will prevail here.”

The case remains under investigation.