Video footage has been unveiled, depicting the tragic police shooting that led to the loss of Stephen Perkins' life. The video records a total of 18 gunshots fired on the front lawn of his home.
Perkins' family contends that their beloved family member was ambushed by the Decatur, Alabama police.
In the footage, which originates from a neighbor's front door camera, a police patrol car passes by Perkins' residence and continues down the street. A tow truck subsequently arrives in the driveway. Soon after, a flashlight emerges from the front of the house, moving toward the tow truck, and a man's voice demands, "Hey, give me my truck back!"
Moments later, another individual rushes out from the rear of the house, and a voice commands, "Hey, hey, police! Get on the ground!" Before the officer can finish uttering "ground," a barrage of over a dozen shots is discharged.
Confusing orders related to Perkins' firearm follow, and according to neighbor Justin Shepherd, some of the shots penetrated his home across the street. He expressed disbelief that the officers gave Perkins sufficient time to react, echoing a sentiment shared by the family's attorney.
Attorney Lee Merritt commented, "The policy of not announcing yourself and creeping up onto people's properties, they will tell you it's for officer protection, so that they're not ambushed, but what they did here was ambush Steve," as reported by The AP.
Nevertheless, authorities insist that Perkins brandished his firearm at the officers, precipitating the shooting.
However, until the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency releases the body camera footage, the full picture remains uncertain.
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