Attorney calls for arrest of Decatur officer who killed Stephen Clay Perkins
As hundreds of people gathered tonight for a vigil to mourn the death of Stephen Clay Perkins, an attorney representing his family called for the arrest and firing of the officer who shot and killed him.
Addressing the crowd outside Decatur City Hall, national civil rights attorney Lee Merritt also demanded the arrests and firings of the two other officers who went to Perkins’ house early Friday morning. Officials have not released the officers’ names.
“I think that there’s more than enough probable cause to make an arrest,” he told AL.com after the vigil. “There’s never an open and shut case involving a Black man in the American judicial system because of the inerrant bias, but this is a case that can be won and should be vigorously prosecuted.”
Police said Perkins pulled a gun on a tow truck driver attempting to repossess his vehicle early Friday morning. The driver left but returned with police officers more than an hour later, according to video footage reviewed by AL.com. Police said Perkins came outside with a gun and turned it toward the officer who shot him in the front yard.
But Merritt said the tow truck driver had the wrong address and police ambushed Perkins in the dark outside his home.
[Read more: What happened on the night police killed Stephen Clay Perkins]
Nicholas Perkins, Stephen’s older brother, spoke of the family’s grief.
“I was not only his brother, I was his friend and his protector,” he said. “You have no idea how it feels to be born a protector and that job was taken away from you unjustly and unwarranted.”
Speaking to Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, who joined the crowd outside City Hall tonight, Nicholas Perkins pleaded for justice.
“I also challenge you as the leader, we want accountability,” he said. “We want responsibility. We want change. So citizens of Decatur, y’all got work to do. We need new leadership. We need to push forward. Justice for Steve.”
Merritt said he met today with Scott Anderson, the district attorney of Morgan County and asked why the officers haven’t been arrested. The family’s lawyer called for immediate arrests and indictments within 30 days. He said the ongoing state police investigation of the shooting should not hinder the district attorney from charging the officers.
“You see when a murder happens in the community — we hope that it never happens, but when it does happen — we expect swift justice,” he said. “And when it’s denied, justice is denied to our community. And when justice is denied, we cannot go on with business as usual.”