The family of Emantic "EJ" Bradford Jr., the "good guy with a gun" who was killed during a mall shooting in Alabama on Thanksgiving, hired an independent party to conduct a pathology report on EJ's death. The family's attorney, Ben Crump, released the pathologist's findings on Monday.
Specifically, the forensic pathologist, Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr., found that Bradford sustained three injuries, all of which allegedly entered his body from behind. Based on Dr. Mitchell's findings, Crump believes this evidence proves Bradford posed no risk to the off-duty officer who shot and killed him.
"This review conclusively documents that EJ was shot three times and that all shots entered his body from the back. It clearly demonstrates that EJ posed no threat to the off-duty Hoover Police Department officer who killed him while working a private security detail at Riverchase Galleria mall, since EJ was moving away from him," Crump said in a written statement. "If anything, the evidence corroborates the testimony of multiple witnesses who said EJ was trying to help others. The findings are devastating and heartbreaking to EJ’s family, compounding the shattering impact of this unnecessary and unwarranted killing."
According to Dr. Mitchell's report, Bradford was shot three times: once in the back of the right side of his head; once in the back of his neck, where the the round lodged; and a third time in the abdomen, where the round also lodged. The round to the head was the only one that exited Bradford's body.
The report did not establish the shots' order.
Crump said the family hopes all evidence, including videos and the medical examiner's autopsy are released rather quickly.
"EJ’s senseless death is the latest egregious example of a black man killed because he was perceived to be a threat due to the color of his skin," Crump said. "This tragically unacceptable pattern will not end until all who bear a measure of responsibility are held accountable.”
The pathology report was released Monday during a press conference in Alabama. Rev. Jesse Jackson was there in attendance and opened up the conference with a prayer, TheRoot reported.
“All we really want is one set of rules,” Rev. Jesse Jackson said. “We want the people of Hoover to know, all we want is justice... why cover up the tapes?”
According to Crump, the family believes the officer should face criminal charges based on the pathology report.
“It is clear... EJ Bradford was shot three times from the back, while he was moving away from the police,” Crump said. “This family was requesting equal justice for E.J. Now they are demanding equal justice for E.J. based on forensic science that is not debatable. We believe based on this forensic evidence that this officer should be charged with a crime.”
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