By Police1 Staff
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham police arrested a man in the 2002 fatal shooting of an officer, bringing friends and family who long awaited the charges nearer to closure.
Birmingham Officer Joseph Jerome Daniels, 31, was killed while off duty at a restaurant near his house. Police announced at a press conference Wednesday that Adam Bradford, currently jailed on unrelated charges, has been charged with capital murder in the death.
Daniels was not in uniform and waiting to eat dinner when a man entered, demanded money and fired shots, striking a worker in the back, according to The Birmingham News. Daniels returned fire and was shot in the chest multiple times.
Cold case Detective Jody Jacobs said Bradford’s name came up when the case opened in 2002, but did not say what led to the arrest. Daniels’ partner at the time of his death told WBRC he “jumped for joy” when he heard the news from the sister of the fallen hero.
"[Daniels] went out doing what he had to do to save another life,” he said.
Bradford’s release date is currently set at March 13, 2025.