21-year-old killed during the Alabama mall shooting was not the gunman

By Rodolfo Vieira

Feb 08, 2019

10:38 A.M.

Police have come to public to confirm that the 21-year-old man that was shot and killed by an officer was not the one who opened fire inside an Alabama mall.

On Thursday, November 22, 2018, a gunman pulled out a gun and shot an 18-year-old victim in the chest, who was rushed to the hospital along with an injured 12-year-old girl.

According to a statement released by the Hoover Police Department, the authorities mistook Emantic Fitzgerald Bradfor Jr., the fatal victim, for the gunman.

"There is 'at least one gunman still at large."

The shooting took place at the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, Alabama, about 10 miles south of Birmingham, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

WITNESSES WERE CRUCIAL TO CLEAN BRADFORD'S NAME

Initially, Police believed that Bradford, who was in the possession of a firearm, was the one responsible for the shots fired but a careful investigation led them to the realization that he was not the one to blame.

SUSPECTS AT LARGE

Captain Gregg Rector shared that Bradford was involved in 'some aspect of the altercation' with the 18-year-old victim but that he hadn't fired any rounds.

It has been reported that investigators now believed that more than two suspects were 'involved in the initial altercation' and that there is 'at least one gunman still at large.'

According to the statement released by the Hoover Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will now be taking over the leading role in the investigation.

THE VICTIMS' ARE EXPECTED TO RECOVER

As previously mentioned, Bradford was believed to be responsible for the shots that sent two people to the hospital and caused nearby customers to run for their lives.

When Bradford tried to flee the scene, he was shot in the back by a Police Officer, whose identity is yet to be revealed and is currently on administrative leave pending an investigation.