Matt wrote about the Thanksgiving shooting that took place in an Alabama mall. Apparently two teenagers got into a fight at the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover. A gunfight broke out and one man was killed.
The Hoover Police Department initially thought that the man they killed was the gunman. It turns out that the man who was killed, 21-year-old Emantic Bradford Jr., was a good guy with a gun.
Here's the update from HPD, where they say Bradford Jr. was shot and killed but was not the gunman:
HPD released another update on Monday, saying the actual gunman is still at-large:
In another update, HPD said Bradford Jr. was shot because he "branded" his firearm. In other words, he was seen with a gun in hand and cops assumed he was the shooter.
HPD also released a statement on Twitter:
— Hoover Police Dept (@HooverPD) November 26, 2018
It's important to note this part of their statement:
"We can say with certainty Mr. Bradford brandished a gun during the seconds following the gunshots, which instantly heightened the sense of threat to approaching police officers responding to the chaotic scene."
According to Bradford Jr.'s family, he was "a devoted son and brother, who dedicated his life to serving his country and always doing the right thing."
"My son was a loving -- very loving -- young man. He would give any of you the shirt off his back," his mother, April Pipkins, told CNN. "He loved people, period. He was not a killer."
According to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Bradford Jr.'s family, Bradford had no criminal record, was a concealed carry permit, and was actually trying to assist victims when he was shot. The attorney also said Bradford was denied medical attention after being shot.
"If you're black and you're a good guy with a gun, the police does not see you as a good guy. They just see you as a criminal and they shoot and kill you," Crump told CNN.
The cop who shot Bradford is on administrative leave pending an investigation. Crump previously represented Trayvon Martin's family.