DA: Jabari Peoples reached for gun prior to being shot by police officer in Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr ruled a Homewood shooting where a police officer fatally wounded an 18-year-old as justified.

Carr stated Wednesday body camera footage and other evidence showed Jabari Peoples had a gun in his right hand when an officer shot him June 23. The body camera footage was shown to the family of Peoples and its attorneys Wednesday afternoon. No criminal charges will be filed against the officer who shot Peoples.

According to Carr, the officer was trying to detain Peoples because he possessed marijuana in his car, which was parked at the Homewood Soccer Park. The officer directed Peoples and the passenger inside his vehicle to exit, Carr stated. The officer saw a gun between the driver’s seat and the door frame, according to Carr.

For their safety, the officer decided to place handcuff on Peoples. Carr stated the 18-year-old, however, resisted, causing a tussle. Peoples then ran away from the officer and grabbed the gun in the vehicle, Carr stated. The officer fired one shot, which struck Peoples in the left side of his back, according to Carr. Peoples was pronounced dead at UAB Hospital around 10:06 p.m. that Monday, about 35 minutes after the shooting occurred.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency assumed the investigation into the case. The family of Peoples disputed law enforcement’s version of events. Leroy Maxwell Jr., an attorney representing the family, said a witness claimed Peoples did not have a weapon when the officer approached him.

The family demanded the ALEA release the body camera footage. Attorneys representing Peoples filed a petition against the city of Homewood and the officer who shot Peoples. In an amended petition, Maxwell added the ALEA and State Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Inabinett. The family also enlisted civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

Homewood Mayor Alex Wyatt requested the ALEA to allow Peoples’ family to see what happened that night. Gov. Kay Ivey released a statement on the shooting, and citizens called for transparency.

The ALEA did not release body camera footage as it was investigating, claiming it would hinder the investigation. The ALEA concluded its investigation and turned over the file to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office and Homewood Police Department on Friday.