Press Release: Officer Involved Shooting Investigation
Homewood Police Department News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25th, 2025
Officer Involved Shooting Investigation – Additional Details
The Homewood Police Department has seen a recent increase in criminal activity in and around our athletic complexes. On June 23rd, 2025, at around 9:30 PM, a veteran Homewood Police officer observed a vehicle parked in the back corner of the Homewood Soccer Complex parking lot located at 1800 South Lakeshore Drive. The officer approached the vehicle in his marked Homewood Police unit and observed two occupants sitting in the vehicle. As the uniformed officer approached the vehicle, he smelled the odor of marijuana. The officer ordered both occupants out of the vehicle. When the driver (Jabari Peoples) exited the vehicle, the officer observed a handgun in the door pocket of the open driver’s side door. The officer then attempted to secure Mr. Peoples in handcuffs to affect an arrest for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and possible other charges, at which point Mr. Peoples began to actively resist. A physical struggle ensued, at which point the officer was knocked to the ground. Mr. Peoples broke away from the officer and retrieved the handgun from the open driver’s side door pocket, creating an immediate deadly threat to the officer. The officer, fearing for his safety, fired one round from his service weapon to defend himself, in accordance with Alabama state law (Title 13A-3-27(b2)). Mr. Peoples fell to the ground, still gripping the handgun in his right hand. The officer gave multiple verbal commands for Mr. Peoples to let go of the handgun. The officer then called for emergency backup as the other vehicle occupant, who had fled into the woods, began approaching the officer. The officer instructed the other occupant to sit on the curb while he removed the handgun from Mr. Peoples’ possession. Medics were then requested to respond to the scene.
Backup officers arrived within one minute and thirty-six seconds after the officer’s request for assistance and immediately began rendering medical treatment to Mr. Peoples. While emergency aid was being rendered, the involved officer secured the other occupant in the back of his marked Homewood Police unit. Medical treatment of Mr. Peoples was relinquished to Homewood Fire Department paramedics upon their arrival, and he was transported to UAB Hospital.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was immediately notified, according to the Homewood Police Department’s policy, and responded to the scene where they assumed responsibility for the investigation. The details surrounding this incident are clearly captured on the officer’s body worn camera, of which ALEA took possession. Arrangements are being made to coordinate viewing of the video by Mr. Peoples’ family. As the Homewood Police Department has relinquished the investigation to ALEA, pursuant to Code of Alabama Section 36-21-210 (2), only ALEA is authorized by law to release any recording of the incident.
This sequence of events, resulting in the loss of life, is tragic and we empathize with Mr. Peoples’ family as they grieve.
