Updates Given After Man Shot And Killed By Tuscaloosa Police

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Investigators have identified a Tuscaloosa man shot and killed by police Thursday night and provided new updates on the investigation at a press conference by the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit on Friday.

Tuscaloosa Sheriff's Office Captain Jack Kennedy, the unit's commander, identified the man killed as Tuscaloosa native Roddrick Inge, 29. He then said in the initial stages of the investigation, it is believed that Inge fired at Tuscaloosa Police officers as they were attempting to arrest him in a wooded area off of Skyland Boulevard after he reportedly fired into a vehicle with a woman he had been in a relationship with, along with their two children.

While the Violent Crimes Unit is tasked with gathering evidence and facts, Kennedy said the case will be turned over to District Attorney Hays Webb's office to then be presented to a grand jury.

Watch Friday's full press conference here

In discussing the events leading up to the shooting, Kennedy said Tuscaloosa Police officers responded to a domestic violence call from a woman at around 9:15 p.m.

As officers were speaking with the victim, Kennedy said Inge was spotted driving in the area. He then said Inge reportedly pulled over as officers attempted a traffic stop, but then fled in his vehicle and drove a short distance before stopping and getting out to flee on foot.

In between the Los Tarascos and Enterprise Rent-a-Car on Skyland Boulevard Thursday night, a Dodge Ram pickup truck could be seen behind police tape with the passenger side door left open.

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Earlier on Friday, investigators said when TPD officers located Inge, he ignored commands and produced a handgun, then fired at least one shot at officers before they returned fire. Inge was struck during the shooting and transported to DCH Regional Medical Center, but died of his injuries shortly after the shooting.

"At this stage in the investigation, we have no idea on motives or anything like that," Kennedy said Friday, before pointing out that Inge's prior criminal record was "very, very minor."

The Tuscaloosa Police Department says two its officers are currently on paid administrative leave, per City of Tuscaloosa protocol.

When asked about footage of the shooting, Kennedy said the release of body camera footage would be left up to the Tuscaloosa Police Department and District Attorney's Office, but did confirm that footage also exists from vehicles and security cameras at businesses in the surrounding area.

Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley and Mayor Walt Maddox also both released comments on Friday after reviewing the available footage.

Blankley pointed out that Inge had shot at his own children, ages 3 and 5, and their mother while they were inside their vehicle, endangering the safety of the public and ultimately forcing officers into a dangerous situation.

“After reviewing the evidence, I’m confident that our officers acted properly and followed
procedures,” he said. “Because of this, none of the officers or other members of
the public were injured.”

As the investigation moves forward, Maddox said he met Friday morning with Blankley and Webb to review the details of the case and voiced his support for the officers.

“From what I viewed, our officers acted appropriately in a very dangerous situation,” he said.

Thursday's fatal officer-involved shooting is the second death of a suspect in TPD custody in less than a year, following the death of Kendrell Watkins in August 2020 after he was subdued by officers with a Taser. While a decision on that case has yet to be returned from grand jury, authorities also expressed support for the actions of the officers involved in that case.

While in the works prior to the fatal incident in August, the City of Tuscaloosa approved sweeping policy changes the following September for the city's police department, such as banning chokeholds and implementing a new system to report misconduct, under the Project Unity initiative by the mayor's office.

However, backdropped by nationwide outcry against police violence, the fatal shooting on Thursday occurred at a particularly sensitive time for many across the country and in Tuscaloosa as the trial moves forward in Minneapolis over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police last summer.

Kennedy acknowledged the current landscape and stressed that the investigation would be impartial and not involve any of the multi-agency unit's investigators who are employed by the Tuscaloosa Police Department.

"My concern is that all evidence is gathered for this so all facts can be known and this can be reviewed by a grand jury," he said.

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