A black woman was shot and killed Saturday just before 2:30 a.m. by a white police officer in her Fort Worth, Texas home after a neighbor called a non-emergency number to report the woman’s front door was open, police said.
The police report says officers were searching the perimeter of Atatiana Jefferson in Hillside Morningside neighborhood during a welfare check when they saw a person standing near a window inside and when one of them said “they perceived a threat,” he opened fire, killing her, Fort Worth police said.
Moments before a Fort Worth officer fires through a window into a house, Atatiana Jefferson can be seen looking out at the officer. Her family says she and an 8 year old nephew were in the room concerned about the noises they heard outside. @wfaa pic.twitter.com/3nNhNTcGOm
— Kevin Reece (@KevinReeceWFAA) October 13, 2019
Attorney Lee Merritt said that Jefferson was living with her mother to help out because her mother has a medical condition.
.@MeritLaw says Atatiana Jefferson was living here helping her mother that has a medical condition. Police will only stand by their statement right now. Merritt says Jefferson was up “playing video games” with her nephew. @FOX4 pic.twitter.com/i1rtOouTxl
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialFox4) October 12, 2019
Pastors and activists in the community are seeking answers, wanting to know why she was shot and killed.
Happening Now: Community pastors and activists want to know why a woman was shot and killed in her own home overnight. They’re demanding transparency from @fortworthpd Location: Exciting Greater Saint Stephen First Church @wfaa pic.twitter.com/ku68ZS4H0y
— Cleo Greene (@cgreeneWFAA) October 12, 2019
The also responded to the most recent press release by the Fort Worth Police Department.
Happening Now: Pastor Michael Bell responds to the most recent press release from @fortworthpd, which states an officer observed a person standing inside the home near a window. Perceiving a threat the officer drew his duty weapon and fired one shot striking the person inside. pic.twitter.com/ksmPjSYObB
— Cleo Greene (@cgreeneWFAA) October 12, 2019
The officer — a white male who has been with FWPD since April 2018 — has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. His name has not been released.
According to Atatiana’s page (which was last updated publicly in 2018), she worked at Xavier University of Louisiana, where she also studied biology and majored in chemistry with a minor in pre-med.
She was a dedicated student. This 2015 video shared by Jefferson on YouTube shows her doing an AP lab exercise.
Her Facebook cover photo was a photo of pretzels arranged to spell out the word “love.”
This shooting makes absolutely no sense. The investigation is still ongoing and the family has retained a lawyer.
We’ll keep y’all updated as new information becomes available. Rest in peace, Atatiana.
#JusticeForAtatiana
