Galleria Shooting Suspect: Lawyer Asks To Be Removed From Case

HOOVER, AL - The suspect in the Thanksgiving day shooting at the Riverchase Galleria underwent a hearing last week, with more details of the incident - which resulted in a Hoover police officer shooting and killing EJ Bradford - coming to light. Following the hearing, the attorney for suspect Erron Brown asked for and was granted removal from the case.

Brown is charged with attempted murder for the Nov. 22 shooting inside the Galleria mall. Brian Wilson, 18, and 12-year-old bystander Molly Davis were injured in the incident, and Bradford was fatally shot by Hoover police. Initial reports said Bradford was the shooter, but that was determined through the investigation to be false.

During the Jan. 17 hearing, witnesses testified that Wilson first approached Brown, followed by a large group of people, according to an Alabama Media Group report. Wilson slapped and punched Brown, said ALEA Special Agent Pete Acosta, and Brown then shot Wilson and fled the scene with two friends.

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Acosta testified that witnesses said Wilson first approached Brown, followed by a large group of people. Wilson slapped and punched Brown, Acosta said, and Brown then shot Wilson and fled the scene with two friends. Those two friends talked to police and also testified during the hearing.

Birmingham attorney Charles Salvagio, who represented Brown at the time of the preliminary hearing, asked the judge to dismiss the case, calling it a “pure case of self-defense.” Salvagio on Tuesday, however, asked to be removed from the case as Brown’s attorney and the judge granted the request, although Salvagio did not make public his reason for wanting off the case.

Salvagio did request a lower bond for Brown, but that request was denied.

Photo via Jefferson County Jail