Police release bodycam video: Suspect in Wednesday's shooting involving a police officer never fired

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WBRC) – Birmingham police released bodycam and dashcam footage Friday afternoon confirming that no officers were ever shot at, as they reiterated following Wednesday's officer-involved shooting.

According to police, officers attempted to stop 28-year-old Jaylin Patton's car on I-59 near the airport shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4.

Video footage shows Patton first pulled onto the shoulder of the road and then continued driving until the car stopped in front of a nearby fence. Then, police say, he got out of the car and started running.

“After receiving this information and seeing the video, we know it was misinformation. We want to clarify now that in our efforts to be transparent with the public, it is very difficult to have all the information and facts immediately in these critical incidents. We want to make sure we clarify that our officer was not shot, but we see on the video that this person has a gun and what led to the shooting,” said Police Chief Scott Thurmond.

In the video, police can be heard yelling at Patton several times to drop the gun. Then, an officer can be heard over the radio saying he threw the gun. Then, the same officer tells him not to pick it up before he starts firing several shots.

But as his mother Nicole Hillary told WBRC on Thursday and police confirmed today, Patton never shot at the officers.

Chief Thurmond was also asked what protocol applies to officers firing shots when they see a suspect with a gun who is running away.

“If these officers believe their life or the life of another person is in danger, they can intervene,” Thurmond explains.

According to Hillary, she still hasn't been able to see or speak to her son as of Friday afternoon. We're told he's being detained and will be held for 48 hours.

“If someone is charged with a crime, they can be held for up to 48 hours, just like we would hold them in the city jail for 48 hours,” Thurmond said. “During that 48 hours, they are not allowed to have visitors or make phone calls, and that is the situation we have today. Alabama law enforcement would obtain arrest warrants before those 48 hours were up.”

Chief Thurmond also says ALEA recovered a weapon from the scene and that additional charges will be filed against Patton.

Court records show that Patton had previously been charged with attempted escape and reckless endangerment; he pleaded guilty to misdemeanors in both cases.

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