BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and Homewood Mayor Alex Wyatt are both calling for transparency as demands intensify for the release of police body camera footage in the fatal shooting of Jabari Peoples, while activists and the victim’s family threaten a boycott of Homewood businesses unless the video is made public.
Peoples, an 18-year-old Black college freshman, was shot and killed by a Homewood police officer on June 23 in a parking lot near a soccer complex. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency continues to withhold the officer’s body camera footage, citing an ongoing investigation and a state law allowing agencies to restrict video if its release might impede a probe.
In a statement this week, Ivey acknowledged the urgency for answers and affirmed her support for a thorough and transparent investigation. She clarified, however, that the decision to release any footage rests with ALEA, not her office. Mayor Wyatt, in his own remarks, said he has formally asked the state agency to allow the family to view the footage, but also emphasized the city is not authorized to release it independently.
Protesters have rallied at Homewood City Hall and council meetings in recent days, with activists and civil rights groups vowing to boycott local businesses in an effort to pressure officials for greater transparency and an expedited release of the video. Organizers say the boycott will continue until the footage is released and the city takes additional steps toward police reform.
Law enforcement officials argue that releasing the body camera video prematurely could jeopardize the investigation, while supporters of the Peoples family contend that viewing the footage would provide crucial answers and accountability. The investigation remains active as community tensions mount and state and local leaders face growing scrutiny over the case.