Hoover May Release Galleria Shooting Information

HOOVER, AL - In the midst of national media coverage and nightly protests over the death of EJ Bradford at the hands of a Hoover police officer, the Hoover City Council discussed the possibility of releasing more information regarding the Thanksgiving night shooting at the Riverchase Galleria.

Hoover city councilman Derrick Murphy has called for state authorities to release information and footage regarding the deadly shooting, according to a report by Alabama Media Group. Mayor Frank Brocato, Police Chief Nick Derzis, and other city leaders made the announcement Thursday morning during a press briefing at Hoover City Hall.

ALEA has been asked to release information about the shooting by noon Monday. If ALEA does not, the city might release it themselves, Murphy said. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

“I’m making a request to ALEA to allow the City of Hoover to release the limited information we have. We urge ALEA to approve this request no later than noon on Monday. Chief Derzis and I have also discussed a follow up plan in the event we don’t receive the information by Monday at noon, the chief will decide whether to release the limited information on his own,” Murphy said in the Wednesday night press conference.

The incident has rocked the community, as protests in Hoover have been organized all week as people look for answers to the death of Bradford. Bradford and his friend Brian Wilson were involved in an altercation at the mall while Christmas shopping, and the altercation led to shots being fired. When a Hoover police officer arrived at the scene, he reportedly shot Bradford, who was holding a gun. Initial reports said Bradford was the shooter, but that was determined through the investigation to be false.

Murphy also addressed what has been reported as hateful and violent rhetoric from protesters, who convened outside Brocato's home Tuesday night.

"Two nights ago, protesters exercised their constitutional right to peacefully protest outside the mayor’s home. Now I wasn’t at the protest. I can’t tell you what was said. I can’t tell you who said it. I can tell you hate has no place anywhere in our city during the protests, from protesters, from counter protesters, or on social media,'' Murphy said.

“I can also tell you that two wrongs don’t make a right," he added. "And I say that because regardless of what happened during a protest, some of the members of our community and outside of community took to social media after the protest and said some hateful, racist things that have no place in the city of Hoover.”

Bradford's funeral is scheduled for Saturday, and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson has said he plans to attend, and give a eulogy.

"I’ve also taken time to talk to the city council, the chief of police and others to address serious issues that has caused tension in our country, and now in our community,'' Brocato said. "Investigations take time and now we’re doing everything we can to cooperate with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency in finding out the truth of what happened. ”

Photo by Michael Seale/Patch