Oct 14, 2019

Fort Worth police officer who shot Atatiana Jefferson charged with murder

Fort Worth, Texas, police officer Aaron Dean, who shot and killed Atatiana Jefferson, a 28-year-old black woman, in her home, was charged with murder Monday, the Fort Worth Police confirmed. Dean had resigned from his job hours earlier.

The big picture: Dean and another officer had been responding on Saturday to a neighbor's call that said Jefferson's front door was open. Jefferson was inside playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew.

  • Body camera footage shows that the officers went into Jefferson's backyard, Dean shouted at Jefferson through a window to put her hands up without identifying himself as police. He then shot through the window, killing Jefferson.
  • The Fort Worth Police Department said at the time that "officers saw someone near a window inside the home and that one of them drew his duty weapon and fired after 'perceiving a threat,'" per AP.
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