Homewood PD may not release body camera footage of Jabari Peoples to the public

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump, alongside the family of Jabari Peoples, pleaded for full transparency after viewing body camera footage showing the moments Jabari Peoples was shot and killed by a Homewood Police Officer.

“We need to see everything. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” said Crump.

Crump and advocates with the Greater Birmingham chapter of Black Lives Matter said they believe there’s more to see than the 4-minute clip they were shown.

“We don’t know what was said, and the family feels they have a right to know everything that happened, that led up to him being shot in his back running away,” said Crump.

“If they want to have the public’s trust, it would be in the best interest of the city of Homewood to release their versions,” said Greater Birmingham BLM Co-Founder, Eric Hall.

Despite this plea, the Homewood Police Department is denying that request by citing Sections 36-21-210 and 212 of the Code of Alabama.

The Homewood Police Department released a statement, saying in part “A custodial law enforcement agency may only disclose a recording to the following: (1) an individual whose image or voice is the subject of the recording. (2) a personal representative of an adult individual whose image or voice is the subject of the recording if the adult individual has consented to the disclosure. (6) a personal representative of a deceased individual whose image or voice is the subject of the recording. (d) when disclosing a recording, the custodial law enforcement agency shall disclose only those portions of the recording that are relevant to the individual’s request.”

With this in mind, the Peoples’ family, their attorneys and supporters say the fight is not over.

Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr ruled this shooting justifiable. Carr said no criminal charges will be filed against the Homewood Police Officer involved in the shooting. That officer’s identity has not been released.