New Video Shows Suicidal Man’s Murder That AL Cop Was Convicted Of
Graphic footage from the body camera of an Alabama cop convicted of killing an armed and suicidal man in his own home was released on August 27, 2021. The video covers the roughly one-minute time-span after 28-year-old Huntsville Police Department (HPD) Officer William Ben Darby arrived at scene in April 2018 before he then fatally shot Jeffrey Parker.
Parker, 49, was inside his home and holding a gun to his own head when the first HPD officers arrived on the scene. Previously released video from their body cameras showed Officer Gina Pegues attempting to talk Parker into putting down his gun, while Officer Justin Beckles stood by in the doorway to maintain radio contact with HPD dispatchers.
The new video shows what Darby saw as he raced from his patrol car toward Parker’s home, pausing outside to yell at Pegues: “Point your fucking gun at him!”
“He has it to his head,” Pegues replied, adding to Parker: “I don’t want anything to happen to you right now. I don’t.”
“He can shoot you,” Darby warned Pegues.
“Listen, he’s right here in front of me,” she replied.
Darby then pushed past Peckles into Parker’s home and yelled at him, “Put the gun down! Put the gun down!”
“Hey, brother. Put it down, bro! Put the gun down!” Beckles said.
“Put it down; I’m not going to tell you again!” Darby yelled.
“We don’t want you to take your life. Please, please!” Pegues told Parker. “Lower the gun right — ”
She was interrupted by the shot Darby fired from his rifle. He had been inside Parker’s home just ten seconds before he killed him.
As previously reported by CLN, Darby was convicted of murder in May 2021 over the vehement objections of Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle (R) and HPD Chief Mark McMurray, who agreed with the officer that he was justifiably fearful Parker posed a threat to Pegues and Beckles, both of whom have since resigned from HPD. On August 20, 2021, former officer Darby was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Source: Law & Crime
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