AG clears officer in Galleria shooting death

Published 12:50 pm Tuesday, February 5, 2019

MONTGOMERY – The shooting death of 21-year-old Emantic “E.J.” Bradford Jr. on Nov. 22, 2018, will not result in charges against the police officer who shot him, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Marshall said he informed the Hoover Police Department and the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation of his conclusion that the officer did not commit a crime under Alabama law and thus will not be criminally charged for his actions.

“The facts of this case demonstrate that ‘Officer 1’ reasonably exercised his official powers, duties or functions when he shot E.J. Bradford,” Marshall’s report read. “Officer 1 and his partner were on duty in the Galleria when they heard two gunshots approximately 75 feet away. Officers 1 and 2 immediately moved toward the gunshots. Within three seconds, they encountered E.J. Bradford, who held a firearm in a ready position, then charged forward…Officer 1’s actions were reasonable under the circumstances and were consistent with his training and nationally accepted standards for ‘active shooter’ scenarios.”

The Attorney General further noted that it was his understanding that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had reviewed the matter and found no evidence to initiate a case against the officer for civil rights violation(s).

Also on Feb. 5, the Attorney General’s Office showed surveillance video of the shooting to Bradford’s parents and attorneys, who had requested to be shown the video and to have it released to the public.

Two shootings occurred inside the mall on Nov. 22, 2018, during a busy post-Thanksgiving shopping period.

At about 9:51 p.m. that day, Erron Brown allegedly shot 18-year-old Brian Wilson twice. About five seconds later, in response to the initial gunshots, a police officer shot and killed Bradford, who was running toward the initial shooter and victim with a firearm visibly in hand.

The officer told investigators he thought Bradford, who on surveillance video appears to chamber a round in his firearm, intended to shoot the victim of the initial shooting, who lay nearby, and a bystander.