Former Decatur police officer Mac Bailey Marquette on Friday pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder stemming from the fatal shooting of Steve Perkins.

The not guilty plea was filed by Marquette’s lawyer, Elizabeth A. Young of Birmingham. In the same document, Marquette waives his right to an arraignment, which had been scheduled for March 4.

A Morgan County grand jury indicted Marquette Jan. 4, determining he “did intentionally cause the death of Stephen Perkins, by shooting him with a pistol … .”

The fatal shooting took place Sept. 29 at 1:50 a.m. in the front yard of Perkins’ Southwest Decatur home, where four police officers were present while a tow truck driver was repossessing Perkins’ pickup truck.

Perkins exited his home and told the tow truck driver to put down his truck. Neighbors’ security videos show he was carrying a flashlight, which the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said was mounted to a handgun.

Two police officers were around the corner of his house and left cover as Perkins was yelling at the tow truck driver. Security videos show that Perkins turned toward them as they for the first time identified themselves. Within two seconds, an officer fired the first of about 18 shots. According to the family, seven bullets hit Perkins.

Mayor Tab Bowling in November fired Marquette and two fellow officers and suspended another. The other officers are Sgt. Vance Summers and officers Joey Williams and Christopher Mukaddam. The officers appealed, but on Jan. 26 the Decatur Personnel Board agreed to delay their hearings for up to six months.

— [email protected] or 256-340-2435. Twitter @DD_Fleischauer.

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