Alabama cops cleared in fatal shooting of man after rooftop standoff

Published 10:52 am Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Prosecutors have cleared the Huntsville Police Department of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a man who was found atop a building last year, but relatives of the dead man said they still want answers about what happened.

Officers were justified in shooting Bradley Pugh, 41, after a November standoff in which he climbed off the roof of a restaurant and pulled a weapon on police, the Madison County district attorney’s office said in a statement Tuesday. Officers had been called because an armed man was spotted on the building.

Pugh’s mother Adina Peyton issued a statement in response saying authorities have failed to answer the family’s “basic questions” about the killing, and relatives were unaware prosecutors intended to issue a news release saying there wouldn’t be any charges, news outlets reported.

Pugh was suicidal and wanted officers to shoot him, she said,

“The city just wants to use the cover of a criminal investigation to avoid answering questions. I accept and understand that no criminal charges are going to be filed, but I cannot accept that this city allows its police department to kill my son and keep all of the details secret,” said Peyton.

Officers negotiated with the man for about four hours before he came down a ladder and tried to run, police said. Officials have not said how many officers opened fire on Pugh.