Perkins et al v. City of Decatur Alabama et al

On September 29, 2023, Decatur, Alabama police fatally shot Stephen Perkins during a pre-dawn repossession of his truck. Officer Mac Bailey Marquette fired upon Perkins, who was armed on his porch. On August 6, 2024, Perkins’ mother Catrela Perkins and sister Torshonda Perkins filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Decatur, Police Chief Todd Pinion, and Officer Marquette. The complaint alleges excessive force, unlawful entry, and violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. The family, represented by attorney Benjamin Crump, seeks accountability and damages, asserting that flawed policies and a racially biased repossession operation led to the unjustified killing.

The civil lawsuit remains pending in federal court. In parallel criminal proceedings, Officer Mac Bailey Marquette was indicted on murder charges, with the case still ongoing.

Whether Officer Marquette used unreasonable deadly force; whether the nighttime repossession and warrantless entry violated Perkins’ constitutional rights; whether the city’s policies and training demonstrated deliberate indifference to civil rights; and whether racial bias contributed to the fatal encounter.

The shooting sparked sustained protests in Decatur, intensifying calls for police reform and a review of off-hours repossession practices. The case heightened national scrutiny of law enforcement’s use of force against Black men in non-emergency situations. It prompted local policy debates on de-escalation, transparency in police operations, and the need for independent investigations into officer-involved killings.