Madison County DA: Officer that shot man ‘saved lives’

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Madison County District Attorney says legal action is not likely after reviewing evidence of a deadly police shooting Saturday.

In the statement, Madison County District Attorney Robert Broussard said that the investigation into the shooting that killed Naimmikal Wayne Sanders, 38, of Decatur is ongoing.

However, he said early analysis by the district attorney’s office shows that the office likely will not pursue legal action against the officer.

“He [the officer involved] engaged a shooter who was actively chasing and firing at an innocent woman in her own home,” his statement said.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said a Huntsville Police officer shot and killed Sanders following a standoff at an apartment complex on Rime Village Drive on Saturday, August 24.

Broussard says the incident was captured on police body camera footage, showing Sanders chasing a female victim out the apartment’s front door and firing his weapon at her – hitting her twice.

“He continued to fire at her, then turned the gun towards the officer on scene. Within seconds of Mr. Sanders firing at the victim, the officer shot and killed Mr. Sanders,” he said.

Below is the full statement sent to News 19 by the Madison County District Attorney’s Office:

“On August 24, 2024, Huntsville Police Department responded to a call in Rime
Village. The call resulted in an officer-involved shooting where Naimmikal
Sanders was shot and killed by police. This incident is still under investigation
by authorities, but the Madison County District Attorney’s Office has viewed
video footage ofthe incident. Our office’s preliminary review of this incident
indicates that the officer was not only legally justified in shooting Mr. Sanders,
but that he likely saved multiple lives thanks to his quick action.

Just before 10:00 a.m. on the 24th, Mr. Sanders broke into the victim’s
apartment. The victim was home alone with her toddler. Mr. Sanders pulled a
pistol and threatened to kill both the victim and her toddler. He held her
hostage at gunpoint with the gun to her head for several minutes. This was all
captured by a security camera inside the apartment. The first responding
Huntsville Police Officer was outside the door of the apartment when the
victim managed to escape briefly and run out the front door screaming for
help. Mr. Sanders chased her out the front door and fired his weapon at her
multiple times in front of the officer. He hit her twice. He continued to fire at
her, then turned the gun towards the officer on scene. Within seconds of Mr.
Sanders firing atthe victim, the officer shot and killed Mr. Sanders. Mr.
Sander’s attempt to murder the victim and the officer’s intervention were both
captured on the officer’s body-worn camera.

Though the investigation is ongoing, our preliminary analysis indicates that
the Huntsville Policer Officer involved saved the lives of the victim, her child,
and himself. He engaged a shooter who was actively chasing and firing at an
innocent woman in her own home. Our office will continue to investigate but
does not anticipate any action will be taken against the officer.”

Madison County District Attorney’s Office

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