Tuscaloosa Mayor, Police Chief Defend Officers After Fatal Shooting
Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley and Mayor Walt Maddox each issued statements Friday morning to say they believe TPD officers were right to fatally shoot a man Thursday night.
"After reviewing the evidence, I’m confident that our officers acted properly and followed procedures,” Blankley said. “Because of this, none of the officers or other members of the public were injured.”
According to Jack Kennedy, the commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, TPD officers were called to 230 Skyland Boulevard to take a report about a domestic violence incident that had occurred nearby.
A woman there told officers that Roderick Marcell Inge, 29, had been arguing with her and fired a gun at the vehicle carrying the woman and their children, 3 and 5.
As officers were speaking to the victim, Inge was seen driving in the area. Police attempted to detain him at a traffic stop, but Inge reportedly fled, forcing officers into a pursuit.
Kennedy said Inge rushed into some nearby woods on foot and produced a handgun as officers approached. Inge allegedly fired his weapon at the TPD officers, and they returned fire, striking Inge. He was transported to a DCH Regional Medical Center and pronounced dead.
Blankley confirmed that two officers are on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues.
Kennedy told press Friday morning that the VCU is reviewing footage from body cameras, dash cameras and surveillance cameras, but per VCU policy, he does not intend to release any of those videos to the public.
“After meeting this morning with Chief Blankley and the District Attorney to review the details from last night, from what I viewed, our officers acted appropriately in a very dangerous situation,” Mayor Walt Maddox said.
The multi-agency Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit and the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's Office are working together on the investigation and will present their findings to a grand jury when the investigation concludes. The grand jury will determine if any charges should be brought against the officers involved in the deadly shooting.
No members of the Tuscaloosa Police Department are affiliated in any way with the investigation.
This investigation is ongoing, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread for more details as they become available.
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