Family Of Black Woman Fatally Shot By White Officer Sues Cop, Texas City

The family Atatiana Jefferson, a 28-year old Black woman who was fatally shot by a white police officer during a welfare check in Texas last year, is suing the city of Fort Worth and the involved officer.

The victim's father filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas against the officer with the Fort Worth Police Department, who was facing murder charges in December 2019 after fatally shooting Jefferson. The officer, Aaron Dean, had pleaded not guilty to the charge and had resigned from the police department prior to his indictment, NBC News reported.

Jefferson, a pre-med graduate, was fatally struck past midnight while she was babysitting her 8-year-old nephew inside a house and playing video games with the child. Dean, accompanied by another officer, responded to the house after a neighbor had requested a welfare check. The neighbor reportedly noticed that a front door of the house, which belonged to Jefferson’s mother, was left ajar.

Police bodycam video showed that Dean spotted Jefferson through a window of the house using a flashlight. Dean then said, "Put your hands up — show me your hands." The footage reportedly showed that Dean fired in Jefferson’s direction seconds later.

Jefferson’s nephew told cops that she had recovered a handgun from her purse and had it pointed toward the window after hearing noises outside. Police said Jefferson had a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

The Fort Worth Police Department said in a news release that the officer opened fire because he felt threatened. Dean was reportedly released later after posting a $200,000 bond.

"Her father Jerome decided to bring the claim in order to help the family finally get some justice and to bring closure," Tanika J. Solomon, an attorney for Jefferson’s family, told NBC News. "This is not just about money. This is about vindication."

The circumstances of Jefferson's killing are similar to the killing of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was fatally shot by a police officer in Louisville, Kentucky, during a police welfare check. Taylor's death sparked a widespread public outcry against police brutality and racial injustice. The officer who fatally shot Taylor wasn't charged with murder.