ALEA Investigation Of Aliceville Teen Shot By Police To End Today

The investigation into the June 23 fatal shooting of Aliceville teen Jabari Peoples by a Homewood Polic officer is expected to end today. That investigation was taken over by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) per standard procedure.

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In a press release, ALEA issued the following statement, “ALEA will release (State Bureau of Investigation's) investigative file -- including any and all body-worn camera footage obtained from the City of Homewood to the City of Homewood’s Police Department and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office”.

Ever since the incident, lawyers for Peoples' family have been demanding to see police body cam footage but have been denied access under a state law that allows law enforcement agencies to restrict access to the video. ALEA claimed release of the video to the family would, "jeopardize" the case. It is still unclear if that footage will be made available to family members with the end of the investigation.

ALEA has sought a delay of a scheduled Monday court hearing on a petition by the lawyer for Peoples' mother, Vivien Sterling, and other family members. The family is seeking a court order to preserve critical evidence and identify parties as the family considers a potential wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit.

The death of the 2024 Aliceville High grad and current Alabama A&M student has sparked repeated protests demanding transparency in the investigation. Some of the protesters have been arrested.

A Homewood Police report states an unnamed officer approached a car at the park due to recent criminal activity in the area. He smelled marijuana and ordered Peoples and female to exit the vehicle. But when the officer attempted to handcuff Peoples, he allegedly resisted and reached for a gun from within his vehicle. The officer claims he fired at and killed Peoples in self-defense.

The Peoples family disagree with the officers account and believe the body cam footage will show that the youth was not armed and did not resist arrest.