Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr.
On November 22, 2018 Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr was murdered on thanksgiving night at the Riverchase Galleria shopping mall in Hoover Alabama. He was shot 3 times from behind by police officers when gunfire broke out. Police said they had identified Bradford as their suspect and thought he had gotten hold of a gun.
Ben Crump, the Bradford family lawyer stated that the autopsy clearly demonstrated that EJ posed no threat to the off-duty Hoover police department officer who killed him while working a private security detail at the mall. He went on to say:
“The findings are devastating and heartbreaking to EJ’s family, compounding the shattering impact of this unnecessary and unwarranted killing”
In the days following the incident peaceful protest broke out demanding #justiceforEJ. The Bradford family stated that before the private autopsy they had no idea what had happened to their son and had asked the police department several times to release any information.
Emantic Bradford Sr said “what happened to my son and how he was murdered, cause that’s what I’m going to say. He was murdered”
The police department claimed that releasing videos and other information of the incident would compromise the justice process for everyone involved and the officer involved has not been named. This was clearly an attempt to protect themselves.
Ben Crumps statement said “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 colour of his skin. This tragically unacceptable pattern will not end until all who bear a measure of responsibility are held accountable”
EJ Bradford was 21 years old and attended Holy Family Cristo Rey High School and earned his diploma through the General Educational Development program. He had enlisted in the U.S army in 2017 and completed basic training. He worked full time and was a caretaker of his father who was battling cancer. He was not a threat. He was a person and his life mattered.
Love and strength to the family.
Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. We will never forget your story. We will never forget your name.
Shah, Khushbu. “EJ Bradford Was Shot Three Times from behind by Officer, Autopsy Reveals.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 3 Dec. 2018, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/03/ej-bradford-alabama-police-mall-shooting-autopsy.
“Surveillance Video Shows the Moment EJ Bradford Was Fatally Shot.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 5 Feb. 2019, www.nbcnews.com/video/surveillance-video-shows-the-moment-emantic-e-j-bradford-jr-was-fatally-shot-at-alabama-mall-1437711939925.
“Shooting of Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Oct. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Emantic_Fitzgerald_Bradford_Jr.
