Video footage shows the moment police officers in Alabama shot and killed a man while helping a tow truck driver repossess a vehicle. The victim’s family called it an “ambush.”
Steve Perkins, 39, reportedly had less than seconds to respond to officers before he was shot on September 29 at his home in Decatur, Alabama, a city 30 miles southwest of Huntsville.
The confrontation began when a tow truck driver attempted to repossess Perkins’ truck in the middle of the night.
On home security camera footage, Perkins can be heard saying, “Hey, give me back my truck!”
The accompanying officers could be heard responding, “Hey, hey, police!” Get on the ground! according to the video published by WAFF.
Police waited no more than a split second before pulling the trigger — firing more than a dozen shots at Perkins in less than five seconds.
Steve Perkins, 39, (pictured with his family) was shot and killed on September 29 by police officers who were helping a tow truck driver repossess a vehicle from his home in Decatur, Alabama
Perkins, 39, had less than seconds to respond to officers before they opened fire, firing more than a dozen shots
According to police, the tow truck driver reported that Perkins was armed and holding a gun, so officers accompanied him as he returned to the home.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Perkins had a handgun with a light on it.
Decatur police said Perkins “pointed the gun at one of the officers” and they shot him.
Lee Merritt, the attorney representing Perkins, said the officers did not give Perkins enough time to react before opening fire.
Merritt said the officers accompanied the tow truck driver onto the property without warning and opened fire within a second of telling Perkins to get on the ground.
He said Perkins appeared unaware of the police presence.
“They jumped up. They called. … Pow,” Merritt told The Associated Press.
“The policy of not reporting and sneaking into other people’s houses.”
“They’ll tell you it’s to protect the officers so they don’t get ambushed, but what they did here was ambush Steve.”
Perkins’ family (pictured with his wife, Catrela Perkins) said his truck was not repossessed, so he went outside to dispute the tow
Police said the tow truck driver reported that Perkins was armed and displayed a weapon, so officers accompanied him when he returned to the house.
In a statement, Perkins’ family said his truck was not repossessed, so he denied it was towed
Perkins’ family said his truck was not repossessed, which is why he complained about it being towed.
City and state officials asked for patience during the investigation, which ALEA promised would be “very thorough and methodical.”
The agency said the results will be forwarded to the Morgan County District Attorney’s Office.
There have been daily protests in the northern Alabama city since the shooting. Hundreds of people gathered outside Decatur City Hall Thursday night for a vigil for Perkins.
“The thing that’s consistent is the search for answers.” We understand that. That’s something everyone wants, and they want answers now. Unfortunately, we have no control over that,” Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling told news outlets.
There have been daily protests in the northern Alabama city since the shooting
Hundreds of people gather for a vigil in front of Decatur City Hall on Thursday evening
People march along Lee Street in downtown Decatur, Alabama, on Friday, October 6, 2023, during a protest against the police killing of Steve Perkins a week earlier
“I was not only his brother, but also 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 unjustly,” Nicholas Perkins said during the interview, according to WAFF Vigil.
“From the first pictures we’re seeing, it looked like an ambush where he didn’t even know who was in his yard,” family spokesman Brenton Lipscomb told NBC News on Monday.
“They were in uniform, but it’s a very dark area.” There were no police cars in front of the house, they parked down the street and hid in neighborhood yards or around the house.
Representatives from the Decatur Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) did not provide further information.