News Summary
An 18-year-old from Aliceville, Jabari Latrell Peoples, was fatally shot by Homewood police, igniting demands for transparency from his family. Eyewitnesses claim he was unarmed and compliant during the encounter. The family seeks the release of police reports and body camera footage, emphasizing the need for accountability following this tragic incident. A vigil was held in his memory as community calls for justice grow.
Homewood, Alabama – An 18-year-old from Aliceville, Jabari Latrell Peoples, was fatally shot by Homewood police on June 23, 2025, prompting demands for transparency from his family. According to the family’s attorney, Leroy Maxwell, Peoples was shot once in the back during an encounter with law enforcement that they assert was unjustified, claiming he was unarmed and compliant at the time.
Eyewitness accounts corroborate the family’s stance, declaring that Peoples did not possess a weapon when approached by police. Maxwell has initiated an investigation to gather further information regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting. He has emphasized the critical nature of body-worn camera footage from the incident that remains with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and has not yet been made available to the family, despite numerous requests.
On June 23, officers approached a vehicle where Peoples was a passenger, claiming it was justified by a rise in criminal activity at the nearby athletic complex. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers detected a strong odor of marijuana and ordered the occupants, including Peoples and a female friend, to exit the vehicle.
Once outside, a police officer reportedly observed a handgun in the vehicle door pocket and attempted to arrest Peoples for unlawful possession of marijuana. The police account states that a physical struggle ensued, during which the officer was knocked to the ground. It is alleged that Peoples retrieved the handgun from the vehicle, leading the officer to fire in self-defense.
Despite commands to drop the weapon, Peoples fell to the ground while still gripping the handgun. Backup officers arrived approximately one minute and thirty-six seconds later to provide medical assistance, but he was later pronounced dead at UAB Hospital.
Peoples had recently graduated from Aliceville High School, where he was noted to have aspirations of a career in law enforcement. However, family members reported that they were unaware of Jabari’s death until after an autopsy had been conducted, learning about the incident through news coverage instead of direct communication from authorities.
In light of these events, the family is demanding a full public release of the police report and body camera footage, the identification of the involved officer, and a comprehensive independent investigation into the incident. They assert that Jabari was unarmed, compliant, and did not resist police commands before the shooting occurred.
The family also criticized the manner in which the officer approached them, claiming he did so in an unmarked vehicle without indicating his identity through lights or sirens. The attorney representing the family contends that the police report contains inconsistencies and is calling for accountability from law enforcement regarding the lethal force used against Jabari.
The Homewood Police Department has stated its cooperation with ALEA in the ongoing investigation. They have mentioned that arrangements are being made for the family to have access to the body camera footage. However, public sentiment remains tense as calls for transparency and justice continue to rise following this tragic event.
As the community mourns Jabari Peoples, a vigil was held in his honor at Homewood Soccer Park one week after his death, where family members and activists gathered to remember him and advocate for change in policing practices. The growing collective demands for accountability reflect broader conversations about law enforcement actions and the necessity for transparency in police-related incidents nationwide.
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Additional Resources
- AL.com: Alabama Teen Killed by Homewood Police
- Wikipedia: Police Brutality
- WVTM13: Vigil Planned for Teen Killed
- Google Search: Police Transparency Alabama
- People: Family Wants Answers
- Google Scholar: Police Accountability Alabama
- CBS42: Jabari Peoples Shot by Police Officer
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Policing Practices
- WBRC: Vigil for Jabari Peoples
- Google News: Jabari Peoples Shooting
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
