SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
HOMEWOOD, AL — The June 23 fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Jabari Peoples has ignited a firestorm of protest and calls for justice as the Homewood community awaits answers. Peoples were shot during an attempted arrest by a veteran police officer, who claims the teen reached for a weapon—an account the family fiercely disputes.
According to the Homewood Police Department, a veteran officer approached a parked vehicle at the Homewood Soccer Complex around 9:30 p.m. after noticing it in a secluded area. The officer reported smelling marijuana and instructed the occupants to exit the vehicle. As Jabari Peoples stepped out, the officer stated he observed a handgun in the driver’s side door pocket.
The officer then attempted to arrest Peoples for unlawful possession of marijuana, but police say a struggle followed, during which Peoples allegedly retrieved the handgun. “During the physical altercation, the suspect accessed the firearm, presenting an imminent threat,” read a department statement. “The officer discharged one round, striking the individual.”
The Homewood Police confirmed that the incident was captured on body-worn camera footage, but it has not been released. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is now handling the investigation and has taken possession of the video. Homewood Police said they are working to arrange for the family to view the footage, but emphasized that ALEA controls any public release.
Jabari’s family is demanding transparency. “He was unarmed. He was scared. And now he’s gone,” said Khalilah Peoples, Jabari’s mother. “The only thing we’ve asked from the beginning is, ‘Show us the footage.’ If they have nothing to hide, why is it still hidden?”
Attorney Ben Crump, now representing the family, called the police narrative inconsistent with what the family believes happened. “Jabari Peoples was not a threat,” Crump stated. “He was a son, a dreamer, and a citizen who deserved the protection of his rights—not a death sentence over a marijuana warrant.”
Witnesses and community members also question the official account. One resident near the scene stated, “I didn’t see no gun. All I saw was a kid running, and then I heard shots. It was too fast.”
The department has expressed sympathy, saying, “We acknowledge this is a tragedy for all involved.”
City leaders and civil rights advocates continue to press for the release of the footage. “Transparency is not optional when a young Black man loses his life,” said Ayesha Fields of the Alabama Justice Coalition. “The people deserve the truth.”
Nightly vigils and marches continue as the call for accountability intensifies across Jefferson County.