Atatiana Jefferson was shot and killed by Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean while inside her own home. Dean, a white male, has since quit his job and been charged with Jefferson’s murder.
The Incident
Last weekend Jefferson’s door was left ajar. Her neighbor called authorities to perform a wellness check. Jefferson’s mother had recently been discharged from the hospital and the neighbors were concerned for her well-being.
Dean and another officer responded to the residence. Instead of knocking on Jefferson’s front door he retreated to the backyard in complete darkness. He came to a window and yelled, “Put your hands up, show me your hands,” before firing a fatal shot at Jefferson. He claims he saw a figure near the window and this prompted him to fire. He did not announce himself as a police officer.