The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency on Friday reportedly denied the request by the family of Stephen Perkins to view the body cam footage from the night the Decatur man was fatally shot by police.

In a letter dated Friday to Perkins family attorney Cannon Lambert, Sr., ALEA Director Chris Inabinett said “disclosing the requested recording at this time would affect SBI’s ongoing investigation,” WAFF reported.

“Therefore, in accordance with state law, in the interest of protecting the constitutional rights of all involved, and in the interest of prioritizing a thorough law enforcement investigation of the recorded subject matter, ALEA respectfully declines to make the disclosure you have requested while the investigation remains pending.”

Inabinett noted the agency “has a longstanding practice of not releasing body-worn camera footage without a subpoena or court order because doing so, especially before a case is sent to a grand jury would affect the investigation or prosecution.”

Lambert could not immediately reached by AL.com for comment or to verify that he received the letter.

A police report released on Sept. 29 said Perkins had a gun and turned it toward an officer before the shooting. Security camera footage appeared to show that police officers were hiding beside his house while a tow truck driver attempted to repossess his vehicle before the shooting. Perkins came out in the dark and asked the driver to put the truck down, and a police officer came from the side of the house and shot Perkins.

Police initially said Perkins refused to drop a gun, but they walked back that statement 13 days later, after the security footage became public and conflicted with their account.

The incident sparked protests in Decatur and calls to release the body cam footage.

Multiple protesters have been arrested, including five demonstrators charged with disorderly conduct after the Hudson Memorial Bridge on U.S. 31. was blocked last week.