"I Am Here to Tell the Truth": DA Concludes Force Was Justified in Jabari Peoples' Death

Decision Not to Press Charges in Jabari Peoples Case

The Jefferson County District Attorney has decided not to press charges against the Homewood Police officer who shot and killed Jabari Peoples in June. District Attorney Danny Carr concluded that the shooting was justified based on the available evidence, including body camera footage.

In a statement, Carr explained that the footage showed Jabari Peoples had a gun in his right hand when the officer fired, resulting in his death. The family of Jabari Peoples viewed the footage on August 6 at the Criminal Justice Center in downtown Birmingham. However, their initial request to see the video was denied by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).

In a letter to the family’s attorney, Christopher Inabinett, Director of the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, stated that the agency believed disclosing the recording would affect the ongoing investigation. ALEA completed its investigation on August 1 and handed over its findings to DA Carr. After reviewing the case file and the video, Carr determined that no charges would be filed, nor would the case be presented to a grand jury for consideration.

“I just think he was a good kid that made a terrible decision,” said Carr during a conversation with the family. “I told them they have the right to be emotional, I’m not here to tell them how to respond, but I am here to give them the truth.”

Details of the Incident

According to Homewood Police, the body camera footage and other evidence indicated that the officer was attempting to detain Jabari Peoples due to the presence of marijuana in his vehicle. The officer asked both Peoples and the passenger to exit the vehicle and noticed a gun between the seat and the door frame. The officer attempted to place handcuffs on Peoples for safety, but he resisted and a struggle occurred. Peoples then escaped from the officer's custody and returned to the vehicle, where he grabbed a gun from the driver’s side.

At the time of the shooting, Jabari Peoples had the gun in his right hand, and the officer fired one shot, hitting him in the left side of the back, which ultimately caused his death.

Family's Reaction and Concerns

Despite the district attorney’s decision, the family and their legal team expressed dissatisfaction after viewing the footage. They claim to have more questions than answers and are demanding that all footage be released to the public. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump argues that the four minutes of body camera video shown is not the full story and wants independent verification that what Jabari was holding was indeed a gun.

During a press conference, the family attorneys mentioned that they were shown two videos: one short and unedited, and another that was slowed down with added circling and words like “this is a gun.” Crump and others believe that the footage suggests three key points: that Jabari was shot in the back, that he was running away, and that he never pointed anything at the officers.

Jabari’s sister, Angel Nicole Smith, shared her emotional reaction during the press conference, stating that she saw her brother as scared and running for his life. She also mentioned that Jabari had told the officer, “Sir, I promise, I’m not trying to resist, this is my cell phone, this is my phone.”

Ongoing Legal Actions

Crump indicated that the family plans to pursue litigation to obtain the answers they feel are necessary. They are also calling for the city of Homewood to release all footage from the incident publicly.

Homewood Mayor Alex Wyatt released a statement expressing empathy for the Peoples’ family and urging the community to respect the district attorney’s decision, which he claims is based on facts and the law.

Public Access to Footage

The Homewood Police Department responded to inquiries about releasing the video, citing Alabama law. They stated that the body-worn camera footage may not be released to the public and can only be viewed by specific parties.

As the situation continues to unfold, the community remains divided, with calls for transparency and accountability from the family and their legal representatives.