On June 23, 2025, 18-year-old Jabari Peoples was shot and killed by a police officer in Homewood, Alabama. Jabari, a recent high school graduate from Aliceville, was reportedly approached by an officer while sitting in a parked car. Police claim he reached for a gun, but his family insists he was unarmed and shot in the back.
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“Based on the preliminary findings, I can now confirm that Jabari was shot once in the back,” Maxwell said in a statement. “This revelation is consistent with the eyewitness account we have obtained, all of which clearly state that Jabari did not possess a weapon at the time he was approached by the officer.”
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has yet to release the body camera footage, fueling public outrage. Jabari’s family says they weren’t notified of his death until over 12 hours later and were denied input before an autopsy was done.
Hundreds gathered at a candlelight vigil to honor Jabari’s life and demand justice. His death has raised urgent questions about police accountability, use of force, and transparency.
The family and community are now calling for the immediate release of all video evidence and a full independent investigation.
