The attorney for the family of a Emantic Fitzgerald “EJ” Bradford Jr. lashed out at Alabama state officials Monday, calling for return to Jefferson County of any prosecution in the Riverchase Galleria shootings cases.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, along with Bradford’s parents – mother April Pipkins and father Emantic Bradford Sr. – also renewed their demands for release to the public of all video from the Thanksgiving night shooting of Bradford at the hands of a Hoover police officer.

“It is deeply disturbing to the Bradford family that Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall would unilaterally and unnecessarily take the Bradford case away from Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr — the first black person to hold that position,’’ Crump said. “This action could undermine any trust the black community has in this process.

“The election of black public servants, like Danny Carr, is a clear statement by Alabama voters that they intend to correct the darkest patterns of injustice that are woven throughout Alabama’s history and ensure that all citizens are fairly represented, regardless of the color of their skin,’’ Crump said. “This action subverts the will of the voters and detours the necessary march toward justice. Attorney General Marshall has the ability to monitor the case closely and intervene if necessary and appropriate.

“We urge him to allow D.A. Carr to do his job, as the voters intended and not subvert the will of the voters,’’ Crump said. “If not D.A. Carr, then the Bradford family strongly urges A.G. Marshall to appoint Lynneice Washington of the Bessemer Cutoff Division of Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. Washington was the first black woman elected district attorney in Alabama, and she is a strong alternative candidate for taking over this case.

“Further, we are convinced that the straightest path toward justice would be to release all video footage so that everyone can see for themselves what happened in Riverchase Galleria mall. Why did one officer shoot EJ while he was running away, and the other officer did not?” Crump asked. “The video may provide important information that we all need to arrive at the truth. EJ’s death was a senseless tragedy, and we stand with the community in demanding that those in power be held accountable for their actions. We will not rest until justice has been served.”

The Monday press conference Monday in Birmingham’s Kelly Ingram Park follows Marshall’s announcement last week that his office would assume jurisdiction over all of the investigations surrounding the Galleria shootings. Bradford was killed. Wounded were 18-year-old Brian Wilson and 12-year-old Molly Davis, a bystander.

Marshall said he was taking over jurisdiction after the admission by Carr in a letter to Marshall of the presence of potential conflicts between himself and key parties in the case. Carr’s potential conflicts appear to be his relationships with several of the organizers of ongoing protests over Bradford’s death. The day after the Nov. 7 election, Carlos Chaverst Jr. posted this on Facebook, accompanied by two photos of himself with Carr.

Marshall said Carr did not ask to be recused from the cases. "He specifically told me he would like to continue this case and did not ask to be recused,'' Marshall said.

Crump said the family was surprised by the news that Marshall was taking jurisdiction of the cases. “They were utterly confused when this announcement came,’’ the attorney said. “Why is it someone from our community can’t be fair? We reject that.”

Carr, after issuing a statement last week, said he would not comment further on the case. The AG’s office released this statement in response to Crump’s press conference: “As the written correspondence reflects, Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr directly conveyed to Attorney General Marshall the presence of Carr’s perceived conflicts in this matter. Attorney General Marshall acted on standard procedure to assume prosecution. The Attorney General’s Office will ensure that the Hoover mall shooting cases are handled with the highest degree of fairness and professionalism as we pursue justice for all parties.”

“The family wants to know whoever is over this process will be accountable to the citizens of Jefferson County. This happened in Jefferson County,’’ Crump said. “It’s very important to them that they don’t feel the people over this process is trying to protect the police officer who murdered their child.”

Crump said the family is suspicious of the attorney general’s Office. “They feel they’re trying to protect the police officer who killed their child,’’ he said.

Bradford’s mother agreed. “All the family wants is for justice to be served for our son,’’ April Pipkins said. “By taking the case from Mr. Carr, we feel they are trying to protect this officer who killed my son.”

Crump also addressed Marshall’s comments at his press conference last week when asked about the possibility of releasing video. The attorney general said “the video doesn’t tell the whole story.”

“The people in our community when they are accused of crimes, one of the first things they do is release the video and show the video and say there is the proof,’’ said Crump, who has previously seen about 30 seconds of the video in a meeting with ALEA investigators, Carr and Washington. “Now why is it different if EJ Bradford is moving away from the police officer and the police officer shoots him three times in the back?

“We have been told there were more than one police officer there but only one police officer shot and the other one did not,’’ he said. “The video can give us very important insight as to why that happened.

“We believe the video is the straightest path to justice for all involved. If the video shows that nothing was done incorrectly or wrongfully, then it will speak for itself,’’ Crump said. “But if it shows that EJ Bradford was murdered, that will speak for itself and this family is demanding equal justice.”

He said if the video is not released, he may take legal action to get it released.

Crump said the Bradford family is supportive of the ongoing protests over their son’s death. “The family is grateful the protesters are protesting,’’ he said. “They feel if people didn’t do anything, his death would be swept under the rug.”

“They certainly implore all the protesters to be non-violent and follow the examples of Dr. King and Ralph Abernathy and Rev. Shuttlesworth, and all the iconic civil rights leaders that protested right here in the state of Alabama,’’ he said. “They want to make sure we carry their legacy and as they fight for justice for EJ Bradford Jr.”