The grainy video footage captured the moment a Decatur police officer shot and killed 39-year-old Stephen Perkins in the front yard of his home.

But the neighbor’s security camera video is difficult to decipher, leaving questions about what happened when police responded to a call on Ryan Drive early Friday morning.

In a news release, Decatur police said Perkins threatened a tow truck driver and turned a gun toward the officer.

Video footage released by the family appeared to show Perkins shining a bright light in the front yard. On the security video, Perkins appeared to move forward a few steps before turning to the right, leaping backward and falling to the ground. The video then appeared to show an officer emerge from Perkins’ right side, near the home.

Brent Lipscomb, publicist for Perkins’ family, said they want answers about what happened.

“Mr. Perkins was a family-oriented Black man that I consider an individual that strived for excellence,” he explained. “He was into health, the gym, just an all-around, well-rounded individual striving for excellence in America.”

After protesters gathered outside city hall over the weekend, police Chief Todd Pinion said he would not release body camera footage, citing the state police investigation into the shooting.

The city denied a public records request from AL.com seeking release of the footage as well as the officer’s personnel and disciplinary records.

“The family is left traumatized at this point,” Lipscomb told AL.com. “They’re in total shock, which is ultimately one of the reasons why the family is not open to discussing with media, and they had a publicist to come in and handle that for them.”

Lipscomb released the security camera video, recorded by a neighbor, to AL.com. He said Perkins’ family wants a thorough investigation, accountability and transparency.

“We haven’t heard anything from the police at this time,” he said Monday.

Protesters returned to Decatur City Hall on Monday, calling for transparency and the speedy release of information.

“The police took a good man away, a father, a son, and a husband,” said Stuart McClain, who grew up with Perkins in nearby Hillsboro, a town of just a few hundred people. “So, yeah, it’s tragic. It’s very sad, heartbreaking for us to be up here. And the family just needs answers, we need answers and we need them now and that’s all we’re asking for, transparency and answers, and promptness, we need it to be fast. Release the footage, show us, get the confidence back into the community, we’re scared, you know.”

McClain, 35, said he now lives in Decatur, not far from the home where police shot Perkins.

“You know, the same officers that patrol his area patrol mine,” he told AL.com. “I mean, if something were to happen when it gets dark, I don’t want to go outside. I can’t go investigate what’s in my yard? I might get shot, you know? So right now, I just feel like we need answers. We need to know what happened, and we need them now.”

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating the shooting.

In a news release on Friday morning, Decatur police said a tow truck driver was trying to repossess a vehicle when the homeowner pulled a gun. The tow truck driver ran away and police were called to the home, according to the news release.

“Officers on scene ordered the homeowner to drop his weapon, which he refused to do,” the release said. “It was at this time the homeowner turned the gun towards one of the Officers on scene. The Officer discharged his duty weapon, striking the subject.”

Later on Friday, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency released a statement saying Perkins “was found to be armed with a handgun which was also equipped with a light.”

As of Tuesday morning, an online campaign raised more than $12,000 for Perkins’ family.

“It saddens us to know that in 2023, an innocent black life was taken by the system,” the GoFundMe campaign says. “The city failed to contact his family to offer condolences or pay respect. The city failed to notify his wife or family of the incident. However, the city found time to release a statement to the media.”