Attorney: Aliceville Teen Killed by Homewood Police Was Shot in Back

A Birmingham attorney representing the family of a West Alabama teenager who was fatally shot by police in Homewood says he was hit in the back, and that his family has still not been allowed to view body camera footage of the incident that ended his life a week ago.

As the Thread has reported, 18-year-old Jabari Peoples died after he was shot by a Homewood Police officer at a soccer park last week. 

His family, citing eyewitnesses, maintains that Peoples was unarmed and complying with the officer when he was shot.

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Homewood PD issued a statement saying the officer was investigating a recent string of crimes near public parks, and when he approached the vehicle where Peoples and a friend were occupying, "he smelled the odor of marijuana."

HPD says the officer ordered both occupants out of the vehicle and saw a firearm in the driver door panel as Peoples exited the vehicle, and as he tried to cuff the teenager, Peoples resisted, knocked the officer to the ground and "retrieved the handgun from the open driver’s side door pocket, creating an immediate deadly threat to the officer."

The officer fired one shot and struck Peoples, and HPD says he fell to the ground with a pistol in his hand. Backup was there within two minutes to provide medical treatment while the first officer secured the gun and arrested the second occupant of the vehicle, according to their account.

They said they have turned the matter and all evidence involved - including body camera footage - to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for an independent investigation.

On Monday, a Birmingham attorney said a third-party analysis of Peoples' body shows he was shot in the back. And the family of the 18-year-old has not been allowed to see that footage, a full week after the killing.

Leroy Maxwell, who is representing the Peoples family, said Jabari was shot once in the back and "did not possess a weapon at the time he was approached by the officer."

"With these facts now established - the fatal shot to the back and the absence of a weapon - the only remaining question is what the body-worn camera footage will show. That video is critical. It is in the possession of ALEA and has yet to be shared with the family despite repeated requests."