Shooting Officer in Galleria Killing Still Unidentified

It’s been well over a week since the fatal shooting of Emantic “EJ” Bradford, Jr. at the Riverchase Galleria.  Yet, the identity of the officer who killed the man is still being withheld.

WHY?

Here are the facts:

1. There was a shooting reported, and officers responded.
2. A responding officer saw a man with a gun running and shot him.
3. Bradford had not been identified as the initial shooter.
4. It was quickly discovered that the officer made a bad call in judgment which cost a man his life.
5. Rather than own up to the fault and accept consequences, blame is being placed on everybody BUT the officer who acted irresponsibly.
6. If this was not an officer, he would have been identified by now.

Had this NOT been a law enforcement officer, his face would be plastered across every media outlet as the would-be hero who shot and killed the wrong man. He would have been charged with second degree murder or at least manslaughter.  It was definitely a killing, but not necessarily premeditated.  It was absolutely reckless conduct by the officer.  Nobody approaches a scene and just opens fire without asking questions or at least taking time to observe and figure out what’s going on.

The officer was wrong.  DEAD wrong; and he should own up to his error, accept the fact that it cost a man his life, and face the consequences.  That should include being identified, just as it would for anyone else.

It doesn't matter if the officer was Black, White, Asian, a woman, a man, or any combination of the sort. This PERSON should be treated the same as any other who acts irresponsibly to the detriment of another.