Authorities have reportedly arrested the person responsible for an Alabama mall shooting which led to an officer fatally shooting a man who they now believe was an innocent bystander.
AL.com reports that U.S. Marshals apprehended Erron Martez Dequan Brown, 20, in Georgia on Thursday in for shooting an 18-year-old on Thanksgiving at the Riverchase Galleria Mall in Hoover. Two officers reportedly saw the wounded teen’s friend, Emantic “EJ” Bradford Jr., 21, waving a pistol before one of them opened fire, killing him.
The teen victim was reportedly shot in the stomach and remains hospitalized in serious condition. A 12-year-old girl was also wounded during the shooting and has since been released from the hospital. Authorities haven’t revealed who they believe shot her, according to the outlet.
Officials initially claimed Bradford was in an altercation with an 18-year-old at the mall when he pulled a gun and shot the teen. NPR reported that officials have since retracted their original statement, saying it was “highly unlikely” that Bradford was the gunman.
On Sunday, Bradford’s relatives demanded the Hoover Police Department release mall video, witness video, and body camera footage showing the 21-year-old Army veteran’s shooting death. Accompanying the family, civil rights attorney Ben Crump said the police department hasn’t contacted his clients and that they learned about his death on social media, according to WBHM.
While law enforcement has been mostly silent regarding the deadly incident, Crump claimed the officer shot Bradford in the face. He also accused police of barring a nurse from treating Bradford as he lay dying.
Reports indicated that Bradford was a legal gun owner. According to AL.com, Crump noted that Bradford had no criminal record and that he was honorably discharged from the Army. The attorney also claimed Bradford’s gun was tucked in his waistband and he was directing shoppers away from the site of the shooting.
Brown is charged with attempted murder. AL.com reported that he appeared in a Fulton County court Friday and waived his extradition to Alabama. He’s remains jailed on $125,000 bond.
[Featured image: Erron Martez Dequan Brown/Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; Emantic Bradford Jr./Facebook]
