Video Footage Of Galleria Shooting Has Been Viewed By Lawyers

HOOVER, AL - Amidst nightly protests and national media attention, the Hoover Police Department, City of Hoover and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has been under significant pressure to release video footage of the events leading to the shooting death of EJ Bradford at the Riverchase Galleria Thanksgiving night. Reports reveal that the attorney for Bradford's family, Ben Crump, has now seen footage from the incident.

Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr and Bessemer Cutoff District Attorney Lynneice Washington confirmed to Alabama Media Group that on November 30, Crump, along with attorneys Rodney Barganier and Frankie Lee of Birmingham, viewed about 30 seconds of video at the offices of the ALEA. They did so at the invitation of Carr and Washington, both of whom were at the viewing.

“Attorneys Benjamin Crump, Rodney Barganier and Frankie Lee were present on behalf of the Bradford family. District Attorneys Danny Carr and Lyniece Washington also were present. ALEA was in agreement with all parties present that the substance of the meeting be kept confidential. Out of respect for the Bradford family and to remain true to its word, ALEA will continue to honor this agreement.”

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Protesters have convened throughout the city nightly to demand justice and to demand that the video footage be released, although scheduled protests to rake place at some Hoover schools have been thwarted by police at the request of the schools.

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.

The suspect in the shooting, 20-year-old Erron Brown, was captured in Georgia last week by U.S. Marshals. Charles Salvagio, who is representing Brown, filed a routine discovery motion along with a special request for all video evidence.

Salvagio went on to say that he believed the video would show that his client was not the instigator of the event. Although he would not say who started the brawl that turned deadly, he insinuated that at least two of the parties involved knew each other and the fight would have happened anywhere but “somebody wanted it to happen at the Galleria.”

Salvagio said Bradford and Brown did know each other, along with everyone else involved in the incident. While he’s still waiting on video of the incident, Salvagio said he is investigating every part of the case and making sure to “turn over every leaf.”

Photo by Michael Seale/Patch