BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The police department probing the death of an 18-year-old shot by a Homewood officer last month is set to finalize its findings by week’s end.
According to court documents submitted on Tuesday, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s lawyers indicated their investigation into Jabari Peoples’ fatal shooting is expected to be finished by Friday. At that point, long-awaited video footage of the incident is likely to be unveiled.
“Director (Chris) Inabinett expects that SBI’s investigation into the relevant officer-involved shooting will conclude by this Friday, August 1, 2025,” the legal document noted. “Following standard procedures in such cases, ALEA will provide SBI’s investigative file – including all body-worn camera footage from the City of Homewood – to both the Homewood Police Department and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.”
The shooting occurred on June 22 outside Homewood’s soccer facility during an encounter with a police officer, where an independent autopsy determined Peoples was shot once in the back.
Police have maintained that Peoples reached for a gun prior to being shot.
The public has called for the release of bodycam footage from the incident. Until this recent court motion, ALEA had withheld the footage, citing their ongoing investigation. A specific release date for the footage has not yet been identified.
“Ever since Jabari’s tragic loss, his family has pursued transparency,” said Leroy Maxwell, the family’s attorney. “They eventually had to take this fight to the legal system, and as a result, we are hopeful that by Friday, with ALEA’s investigation concluding, the family will finally receive some clarity.”
The next court hearing in the case is set for Aug. 4.
