Today, Austin Police spoke to the fatal police shooting of a 35 year-old man last week.
Ahmed Jabbar Bradley was killed by Officer Eric Copeland after a foot chase that started when the officer pulled Bradley for a traffic violation. APD says Copeland smelled marijuana coming from Bradley’s vehicle, then pulled him over. Bradley fled the scene and Copeland pursued, catching up with him on the 5200 block of Overbrook Drive.
A struggle ensued. APD played a recording of a 911 call from a witness, saying the officer was on the ground and Bradley was trying to take his gun. APD says the dashboard cameras also revealed Bradley trying to strangle Copeland with his attached police radio wire. APD Assistant Chief Sean Mannix said the transceiver's head on Copeland’s radio was separated from the cord.
“[It] would take a great deal of strength and effort to make that occur,” Mannix said at the press conference.
Copeland is on a paid administrative leave until the APD's investigation concludes.
