File photo of Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr., known as E.J., dressed in basic training Army fatigues.
The photo was released by the family attorney, Benjamin L. Crump. Bradford Jr. said on his Facebook page he was a US Army combat engineer. An Army spokesman told CNN he never completed advanced individual training and did not officially serve in the Army.
Alabama police department clarifies statement that police-involved shooting victim was ‘brandishing’ gun
Bradford was honorably discharged from the Army due to an injury, according to his parents, who clutched a photo of him in uniform during an interview with ABC News Saturday and at the news conference on Sunday.
An Army spokesman said only that Bradford Jr. "never completed individual training" and was not considered to have served. Bradford had returned home to Alabama to work full-time.
Parents of man killed at Alabama mall 'outraged' by police treatment
*Point of clarification regarding Mr. Crump (who has a predictable pattern of altering and misrepresenting the truth about the people he represents, IMO.) Mr. Crump, together with the family, is attempting to frame a false narrative/ perception that EM was an honorably discharged veteran and combat engineer. He was not, according to the Army representatives.
EM
is not eligible for veteran status per the Army spokesman, and is not considered to have served. That is a huge tell (to anyone that understands how the military functions) that EM was administratively discharged (
involuntarily separated/ fired) during his initial AIT training (which follows 10 weeks of basic training). An administrative "general discharge under honorable conditions" is vastly different from being medically boarded out and eligible for VA care, and is also
vastly different from an honorable discharge. A "general discharge under honorable conditions" indicates the candidate had disciplinary problems that could not be remedied, but did not rise to the level of crimes punishable under the UCMJ.
General Discharge
A General military discharge is a form of administrative discharge. If a service member’s performance is satisfactory but the individual failed to meet all expectations of conduct for military members, the discharge is considered a General Discharge, Under Honorable Conditions. To receive a General Discharge from the military there has to be some form of nonjudicial punishment to correct unacceptable military behavior or failure to meet military standards. The discharging officer must give the reason for the discharge in writing, and the military member must sign paperwork stating they understand the reason for their discharge. Veterans may not be eligible for certain veterans benefits under a General Discharge, including the GI Bill.
https://themilitarywallet.com/types-of-military-discharges/
Whatever happened, EM had some serious difficulties that could not be remedied with discipline, a change in AIT, etc. His mother also said he dropped out of Catholic school and got a GED, so he has had some history of ongoing difficulties that can't be overlooked. That IS NOT blaming the victim-- those are
facts reported in the mainstream media.
That *does not mean* EM was involved in the altercation, and it also *does not mean* EM was a wholly innocent bystander. The
truth is somewhere in the middle, IMO. Police reported almost immediately to the scene of the shooting, where "many" people had their own guns out. (Links about that upthread.)
It must have been a tremendously dangerous and chaotic scene that police (not mall security) encountered. Mall security had been replaced by actual police officers more than a year ago due to frequent fights, parking ramp crimes, and other increasing crimes in the mall (easy to search online). In fact, one year ago (2017) on Thanksgiving, the mall had to be shut down early due to fights breaking out.
Thanksgiving night fight shuts down Alabama's largest mall 40 minutes early
There would have been LOTS of police presence on a holiday and black friday beginning at a mall known for this kind of behavior.
It would be good to know if there has been progress locating the shooter of the 2 teens.
And we also need to hear much more from the police about the circumstances of the officer involved shooting, and any body camera footage.
At this point, all we can surmise is that it was a dangerous, chaotic scene, with "many" people brandishing guns. I'm not ready to condemn the police for shooting inappropriately, and I'm not ready to consider EM an innocent "good guy with a gun" bystander.
And I'm very disturbed that the family retained Mr. Benjamin Crump as an attorney. They are trying to frame this into a racially based shooting, which, IMO, it absolutely was not.
