Cops shoot and kill an innocent woman as an 8-year-old boy watches, then interrogate the boy without his parents' permission — lawsuit

 

On October 12, 2019, Atatiana Jefferson, 28, was playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew when she heard a disturbance in the backyard and went to check. While Jefferson approached the window to ascertain the identity of the prowler, the prowler opened fire and killed her inside her house. However, since this prowler is wearing a badge, the police department chose to perform damage management by assassinating Jefferson's character before charging Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean with her murder.

According to a complaint filed this week by the 8-year-mother, old's Zion Carr "suffered significant and severe mental and emotional anguish, worry, fear, and misery" as a result of seeing his aunt die as police administered CPR.

According to the lawsuit, after seeing his aunt bleed to death in the living room, police held and questioned the young boy without parental permission.

“At the age of eight, Z.C. was forced to witness his aunt, Atatiana Jefferson, being murdered by Fort Worth police,” the complaint states.

It had been more than a year since Dean killed Jefferson in her own home, and no trial date has been scheduled. Now, CNN reports, Jefferson's sister has filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking civil justice against the City of Fort Worth, Mayor Betsy Price, former police chief Ed Kraus, and former police officer Aaron Dean.

Two more family members, including her father, filed a complaint last year. That issue has not been settled, and Price's office said that they must first establish who is the true executor of Jefferson's estate before proceeding.

According to the PBWW website, Jefferson was murdered early on a Saturday morning after an officer was sent to her house due to her door being slightly ajar. To be sure, Jefferson did have storm doors, but they were closed. Only the internal door was open, as is customary for those who have the glass exterior door.

Rather of approaching Jefferson's door and knocking or ringing the doorbell, the police sneaked around the house like a cowboy. He opened fire and murdered Jefferson when he saw her in the window. According to the complaint, Zion, Jefferson's 8-year-old nephew, was in the room when he saw his aunt "Tay" collapse and die.

According to the lawsuit, the city of Fort Worth "knew or should have known that Defendant Aaron Dean engaged in a pattern of escalating confrontations with the public" and failed to properly educate or oversee police personnel.

“Through their intentional indifference, Defendants the City of Fort Worth Police Department established and promoted policies, practices, and traditions that are blatantly in violation of people' rights,” the complaint states.

Creeping about a house with your gun drawn, despite the absence of threats or rumours of violence, demonstrates Dean's desire to terminate this soon-to-be confrontation amicably.

“I mean, it's absurd. My daughter... has the whole of her life ahead of her,” father Marquis Jefferson said. He continued by stating that he would not be hugging his daughter's murderer, like Botham Jean's brother did in the courtroom after Amber Guyger's conviction for his murder.

“I'm not looking for a hug. That is my only daughter. That is something I will never forget,” Jefferson said.

In an unusual step, the body camera video of the killing was almost immediately published. As shown by the video, her assailant never once identified himself as a police officer.

Dean snuck around the side of Jefferson's house without introducing himself on the video. Any reasonable individual would see this behaviour as threatening. Jefferson, on the other hand, never assaulted the police and instead approached a window for a better look. When the cop, who was very trigger happy and frightened, spotted her through the window, he made a brief statement before promptly murdering her.

“Raise your hands. Present me with your hands!” Dean said before firing less than a second later.

Police conducted a news conference after the release of the body camera video, during which they began smearing Jefferson. During the press conference, authorities reported that the officer opened fire on Jefferson after "perceiving a danger." After that, the Fort Worth Police Department allegedly published a picture of a weapon with no explanation.

No explanation was ever provided as to why a picture of a gun was published.

Nonetheless, the pistol was shown, and Jefferson was portrayed as an armed criminal deserving of death.

Jefferson was a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana with no prior convictions. She had done no offence and had caused no damage. She was assassinated in her own house by individuals claiming to be defenders of society. And since her assassin was one of these individuals, he has been accorded preferential treatment throughout the experience.

The body camera video and 911 call are embedded below.