A Birmingham security guard accused of fatally shooting a Georgia man at the downtown Greyhound station will have his case considered by a Jefferson County grand jury following a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Christopher Jarrett, 46, of Bessemer, is charged with manslaughter in the death of Angelo Herbert Hill Jr., 46, of Valdosta, Georgia. Hill died after being shot during a confrontation at the Birmingham Intermodal Facility on Morris Avenue.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Deputy District Attorney Nick Taggart argued that the shooting was not legally justified, even though Hill had attempted to punch Jarrett.
Taggart said the evidence showed Hill missed the punch and began moving away before Jarrett drew his firearm. Prosecutors contend that the situation did not justify the use of deadly force.
Jefferson County District Judge Tanita Cain ultimately sent the case to a grand jury, saying the evidence presented at the preliminary stage was not enough for her to find that police lacked probable cause to make the arrest.
The case stems from a shooting shortly before 5 p.m. at the downtown transit facility. Birmingham police found Hill unresponsive after responding to a report of a shooting. He was taken to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
A homicide detective testified that surveillance video captured the confrontation. The footage showed Hill walking past Jarrett before the two exchanged words. Because the video had no audio, investigators could not determine what was said between them.
According to testimony, Hill then attempted to punch Jarrett but missed. Hill turned away, after which Jarrett removed his firearm from its holster and pushed Hill in the face. The encounter became physical, with both men going to the ground before shots were fired.
The detective testified that Hill was struck twice, including a wound to the leg and another near the base of the neck.
Jarrett’s attorney, Brett Bloomston, presented a different account of the events leading up to the shooting. He said Hill had already been removed from a Greyhound bus after becoming disorderly and threatening people and remained at the terminal for several hours.
Bloomston also pointed to Hill’s alleged behavior before the confrontation, arguing that Jarrett knew Hill had been aggressive and threatening. Hill’s attorney said Hill had been told he could not continue his trip after being removed from the bus, which had arrived from Tennessee.
Investigators testified that Hill had several types of narcotics in his possession after the shooting. An autopsy also found THC and oxycodone in his system. No weapon was found on Hill.
Prosecutors, however, argued that Hill’s earlier behavior did not give Jarrett the right to use deadly force. Taggart said Hill had already begun retreating when Jarrett reached for his firearm and argued that police could have been called to deal with Hill’s behavior before the confrontation became physical.
A major point of dispute is what happened during the struggle immediately before the shots were fired. Taggart questioned how Hill could have suffered the wound near the back of his neck if the shooting occurred solely as part of a physical struggle.
Bloomston argued that Jarrett had worked as a security guard for about 20 years and had no criminal history or prior allegations of misconduct in his work as a security officer. He also pointed to Hill’s criminal history and argued that the surveillance footage did not show Jarrett pointing his firearm at Hill before the struggle.
Jarrett was working as a contract security employee and was not employed directly by Greyhound. Earlier reporting also indicated that he was licensed to carry a firearm while working through the Alabama Security Regulatory Board.
The grand jury will now determine whether the manslaughter case should proceed to an indictment. The grand-jury process is separate from a determination of guilt, and the allegations against Jarrett have not been proven in court.
