HOMEWOOD, Ala. — The family of 18-year-old Jabari Peoples is demanding to see the body camera footage of the fatal police shooting that ended his life in an Alabama suburb last month.
Peoples, a recent graduate of Aliceville High School, was killed by a Homewood police officer on June 23 in the parking lot of the Homewood Soccer Complex, just outside Birmingham. Police said he reached for a gun during a struggle after being accused of possessing cannabis. His family and their attorney say a witness saw something else.
“The truth needs to come out. The truth has to come out. We need the truth,” said Bron Peoples, Jabari’s older brother, according to the Associated Press. “We’ve got to continue to stand together so it won’t happen to anyone else’s brother, son, nephew, cousin. We got to stand together to make a change.”
According to a statement from Homewood Police, an officer approached the parked car where Jabari and a female friend were sitting around 9:30 p.m. The officer claimed he smelled marijuana and saw a handgun in the pocket of the driver’s side door. The department said the officer tried to arrest Peoples for marijuana possession, and a scuffle broke out.
“Peoples broke away from the officer and retrieved the handgun from the open driver’s side door pocket, creating an immediate deadly threat to the officer. The officer, fearing for his safety, fired one round from his service weapon to defend himself,” the police department said.
But the family is pushing back. Leroy Maxwell Jr., the attorney representing the Peoples family, said a witness reported that Jabari was shot in the back and did not have a weapon when the officer approached.
“They deserve to see with their own eyes what happened in Jabari’s final moments. The public deserves transparency. Jabari’s family deserves justice. And justice begins with the truth,” Maxwell said.
Jabari Peoples family demand release of footage
Homewood Police said the shooting is “clearly captured” on body camera footage. But the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), which is reviewing the incident, has declined to release the video during the ongoing investigation.
“ALEA reviewed the request and determined disclosure of the requested recording would affect the ongoing investigation,” a spokesperson said in an email. A 2023 Alabama law gives agencies the authority to withhold recordings if it could impact active investigations.
The family, community members, and local leaders continue to press for answers. Hundreds attended a vigil at the soccer complex where Peoples was shot. His family released white balloons and doves, and candles were arranged to spell out his name.
Bron Peoples told the crowd his younger brother used to write his goals in a notebook and had a plan for his life. He also said their parents had taught them from a young age how to interact with police.
Aliceville Mayor Terrence E. Windham sent a letter to Homewood’s mayor, urging full release of any and all footage tied to the case.
Community activist Star Robb questioned the use of deadly force over suspected marijuana possession. “He was minding his own business. Even if they did smell weed, when has weed become a death sentence? It’s legal in most states around the country so when did it become a death sentence.”
Peoples had recently graduated and was preparing for his next chapter. Now, his family says they won’t stop until they get the full picture of what happened.
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