Video footage has been released capturing the fatal police shooting of Stephen Perkins in Decatur, Alabama. The video, taken from a neighbor’s front door camera, shows a patrol passing Perkins’ home before a tow truck arrives in the driveway. A confrontation ensues, and within seconds, over a dozen shots are fired. Perkins’ family argues that he was ambushed by the police.
The Decatur Police Department stated that on September 29, officers were dispatched to respond to a local towing company where the tow truck driver was attempting to repossess a vehicle from Perkins’ residence. According to authorities, Perkins confronted the driver and brandished a firearm. When ordered to drop the weapon, Perkins allegedly refused, leading to an officer firing multiple shots.
Perkins’ family disputes the police account, describing him as a family-oriented individual who was not involved in any criminal activity. They claim that the towing company wrongfully attempted to repossess Perkins’ vehicle, citing receipts found in his financing company.
The release of the body camera footage is pending, as the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) considers it investigative material and protected from disclosure. The ALEA is conducting an investigation, and the findings will be presented to the Morgan County District Attorney’s Office for consideration by a grand jury.
The incident has sparked calls for transparency from Perkins’ family, who are urging the Decatur Police Department to release the body camera footage. The family’s attorney, Lee Merritt, argues that the police did not give Perkins enough time to respond before opening fire.
