The family of a man killed by Hoover police at the Riverchase Galleria on Thanksgiving night has retained a national civil rights attorney following the deadly shooting.

Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr., 21, died Nov. 22 when police say gunfire erupted inside in the Hoover mall. When it was over, Bradford was dead, his 18-year-old friend was seriously wounded and a 12-year-old bystander was shot in the back. Eight other people were treated by Hoover paramedics for injuries sustained in the ensuing chaos and evacuation of the mall.

Initially police said Bradford fired the shots that wounded the other two, but on Friday night said he likely did not fire the shots that wounded the others. They did not say whether he fired any shots at all, but said he was involved in the initial altercation and brandishing a firearm.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, out of Tallahassee, Fl., issued a press release Saturday saying he had been retained by the family. He is set to arrive in Alabama Saturday night.

Crump has previously been active in the high-profile cases, including representing the family of Michael Brown, a 17-year-old African American male, who was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri. He also represented the family of Trayvon Martin, also 17, who was fatally shot in Florida by George Zimmerman.

Crump’s release stated that Bradford was an honorably-discharged veteran of the U.S. Army who was licensed to carry a concealed firearm. U.S. Army Public Affairs officials on Saturday confirmed to AL.com that 'Bradford did not serve in the Army, as he never completed Advanced Individual Training."

Crump released this statement from Bradford’s family: “Our family is completely shocked, heartbroken and devastated at the tragic death of our beloved ‘E.J.’ E.J. was a devoted son and brother who dedicated his life to serving his country and always doing the right thing. As we continue to grieve, rest assured that we our working with our legal team to determine exactly what happened and why this police officer killed our son. We will never forget E.J. and ask for your continued prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”

Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector said preliminary information indicated that two people were involved in a physical altercation that led to a 21-year-old male shooting an 18-year-old male several times. The 18-year-old victim was injured and transported to UAB Hospital. A 12-year-old girl was shot in the back and taken to Children’s of Alabama.

The 21-year-old – now identified as Bradford - was fleeing the shooting scene while brandishing a handgun, was engaged, shot and killed by a uniformed Hoover police officer, according to Rector. “Over the past 20 hours, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigators and crime scene technicians have interviewed numerous individuals and examined several critical evidentiary items,’’ Rector said Friday. “New evidence now suggests that while Mr. Bradford may have been involved in some aspect of the altercation, he likely did not fire the rounds that injured the 18-year-old victim. “

Rector said investigators now believe that more than two individuals were involved in the initial altercation. The information indicates that there is at least one gunman still at-large, who could be responsible for the shooting of the 18-year-old and 12-year-old.

The news of Hoover’s statement Friday night sparked Saturday’s protest. Protesters gathered outside of the Macy’s department store at the mall and several people, including local activist Carlos Chaverst, and some of Bradford’s family members. Dozens of people and Bradford’s family members then marched through the mall chanting and carrying signs.

“Police lied, and they still lying,” “Not one more time,” and “stop shopping here” were some of the chants protesters repeated. Members of the media were not allowed inside the mall.

The State Bureau of Investigation took over as the lead investigative agency from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office after detectives determined a potential key witness in the mall incident is a cousin of the wife of Jefferson County Sheriff-Elect Mark Pettway.

SBI said the investigation is ongoing and no updates from any law enforcement agency have been released since Friday night.

Also Saturday, the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP condemned the shooting and called on legislators to “end excessive force against black and brown people.”

“We have learned that the police officer has been placed on administrative leave, but real and lasting consequences need to be taken against police officers who use excessive force,’’ Benard Simelton, president of Alabama NAACP, said in a prepared statement. ’’ The Alabama NAACP believes those officers should be immediately removed and never allowed employment with any police force or establishment where using a gun is a requirement.”

Simelton said “police officers must stop being trigger happy when it comes to our children. Police officers must stop being aggressive with young men of color and stop killing us. Police officers must use human rights tactics to engage who they believe is the perpetrator. A life has been lost because police do not see African Americans as humans. “

“We need to know the standard of procedures used in this case and why was this young man left on the floor to die without CPR being rendered to save his life,” Simelton said.