Steve Perkins shooting death: Alabama man, 39, is killed by police in ‘ambush’ during truck repossession
Video footage captured the shocking moment an Alabama man was shot dead by police in what his family called an ‘ambush’ truck takeover – as he was given less than seconds to respond to officers’ warnings before they opened fire has.
Steve Perkins, 39, was fatally shot by police on September 29 at his home in Decatur, Alabama, a town 30 miles southwest of Huntsville, in a confrontation that began with a tow truck driver trying to back Perkins’ truck. to take.
In home surveillance footage, Perkins can be heard saying, ‘Hey, give me back my truck!’
The police replied: ‘Hey, hey, police! Get on the ground! according to the video published by WAFF.
The police didn’t wait more than a split second before pulling the trigger — and fired more than a dozen shots at Perkins in less than five seconds.
Video footage captured the shocking moment an Alabama man was shot and killed by police in what his family called an ‘ambush’ truck takeover
Steve Perkins, 39, was fatally shot by police on September 29 at his home in Decatur, Alabama, a town 30 miles southwest of Huntsville, in a confrontation that began with a tow truck driver trying to back Perkins’ truck. to take.
According to police, the driver reported that Perkins was armed and flashing a firearm, so officers accompanied the driver as he returned to the home.
According to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Perkins had a handgun with a light on it.
The Decatur Police Department said Perkins “turned the gun on one of the officers” and they shot him.
Lee Merritt, the attorney representing Perkins, said officers did not give Perkins enough time to react before opening fire.
Merritt argued that the footage of the incident shows that officers accompanied the tow truck driver to the property but did not announce themselves and opened fire within a second of telling Perkins to get on the ground.
The police didn’t wait more than a split second before pulling the trigger – firing more than a dozen rounds at Perkins in less than five seconds
‘I was not only his brother, but I was his friend. You have no idea what it feels like to be born a protector, and have the job taken away from you, unfairly and unjustifiably,’ Nicholas Perkins said at the vigil.
Pictured: Clay Steve Perkins with Catrela Perkins
In a statement, Perkins’ family said his truck is not in possession, so he is disputing the towing
According to Merritt, Perkins appeared to be unaware of the police presence.
‘They jumped up. They shouted. … Pow,’ Merritt told The Associated Press.
‘The policy of not announcing yourself and creeping into people’s on people’s property. They’ll tell you it’s for officer protection so they don’t get ambushed, but what they did here was ambush Steve,’ Merritt said.
In a statement, Perkins’ family said his truck is not in repossess, so he is disputing the towing.
City and state officials asked for patience during the investigation, which the ALEA promised would be “very thorough and methodical.” The agency said the findings will be turned over to the Morgan County District Attorney’s office.
Since the shooting, protests have taken place daily in the northern Alabama city over the shooting of a black man. Hundreds of people gathered outside Decatur City Hall Thursday night in a vigil for Perkins.
Since the shooting, protests have taken place daily in the northern Alabama city over the shooting of a black man
Hundreds of people gathered outside Decatur City Hall Thursday night in a vigil for Perkins
People march along Lee Street in downtown Decatur, Ala., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, during a protest against the police killing of Steve Perkins a week earlier
‘The thing that has been consistent is looking for answers. We understand that. It’s something everyone wants and they want answers now. Unfortunately, we have no control over that,’ Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling told news outlets.
‘I was not only his brother, but I was his friend. You have no idea what it feels like to be born a protector, and have the job taken away from you, unfairly and unjustifiably,’ Nicholas Perkins said during the vigil, according to WAFF.
“From the immediate footage we’re seeing, it looked like an ambush of him not even knowing who was in his yard,” family spokesman Brenton Lipscomb told NBC News Monday.
‘They were in uniform, but it’s a very dark neighbourhood. No police cars were in front of the house, they were parked in the street, hiding in neighborhood yards, hiding around the house.’
Representatives from the Decatur Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) did not provide any additional information.