Two Tuscaloosa Police Officers On Leave After Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Two Tuscaloosa Police officers have been placed on standard administrative leave after a suspect was shot and killed during a traffic stop near Bowers Park in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday.

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As Patch previously reported, the initial call regarding the shooting came in at 12:05 p.m. after the officers initiated a traffic stop as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.

Investigators said earlier on Wednesday that the driver pulled over on James I. Harrison Parkway near Hargrove Road before shots were fired during the interaction.

During the shootout, the passenger of the vehicle — a Black man who has not yet been publicly identified — was struck by gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene.

In an update Wednesday afternoon, Captain Jack Kennedy, commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said the deceased suspect's next of kin has been notified and his identity will be released soon.

Kennedy confirmed during the press conference that the suspect was known to local law enforcement, but declined to provide any additional details.

He then said investigators were still on the scene of the shooting gathering evidence, before mentioning that the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's office had been notified and the case is likely to be presented to a grand jury, which is typical for cases involving the use of deadly force by law enforcement.

"This just occurred, " Kennedy explained. "I know in the modern era of cell phones things move quickly but we have to do this in order.

"I don't want to get it wrong," he added. "This is going to be a transparent process but it's going to be done methodically, the same as any other. There's some extra steps to add some extra care in this case to be fair and as just as possible."

The case is being investigated by the multiagency Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, which is following the longstanding protocol of investigating the case without VCU personnel employed by the Tuscaloosa Police Department.

Still, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley joined Kennedy for the press conference Wednesday afternoon and asked the community to be patient as the investigation moves forward.

"Based on the facts I have, I'm confident our officers acted the way they need to have acted to make sure they go home safe," Blankley said. "We're going to be there for our officers, as well, and make sure they get any mental health treatment that they need after going through a traumatic event. It's traumatic for everybody involved and no one wants to see this at all."

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