A white Fort Worth police officer fatally shot a black woman in her home early Saturday morning.
The woman has been identified as 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson.
Police say officers arrived at a home on East Allen Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Saturday after getting a call that the front door was open. Officers searched the outside of the home with flashlights and observed a person standing inside the home, near a window.
Body camera footage shows an officer yelled: "Put your hands up; show me your hands!"
“Perceiving a threat, the officer drew his duty weapon and fired one shot, striking the person inside the residence,” a police statement says.
Officers entered the home and provided emergency medical care. A firearm was found inside the home, authorities say.
The police department released body camera footage soon after the shooting, but video taken inside the house isn't being released due to state public information law. Evidence is being collected to be sent to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.
The unidentified officer has been placed on administrative leave. He’s been with the force since April 2018.
In Fort Worth, community activists, black community leaders and pastors addressed reporters Saturday afternoon. They say they want transparency from the police department during the investigation.
Lee Merritt, an attorney for Jefferson’s family, says he expects a thorough investigation. Jefferson was with her 8-year-old nephew inside the home when police arrived.
“They were playing video games when they heard someone creeping around outside,” Merritt said. “She went to investigate at the window. An officer was on the other side. He shouted commands and before she had a moment to respond, he shot her to death. That’s murder.”
Merritt said officers overreacted at the house and he doesn’t understand how people inside their homes can make officers feel threatened.
“There’s no justification for the use of deadly force,” he said.
Pastor B. R. Daniels Jr. of Beth Eden Baptist Church in Fort Worth says the police officer should be fired.
“We demand an immediate arrest of this officer," he wrote on Facebook. "We demand that this officer be charged with murder. ... We will not play nice and be understanding! We want justice now and we will not settle for anything less!”
The Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight posted on Facebook: “This is bigger than one officer. This entire department and city government are implicated and must be held accountable.”
In a statement, the Fort Worth police department said it “shares the deep concerns of the public and is committed to completing an extremely thorough investigation."
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price says police leaders are "acting with immediacy and transparency to conduct a complete and thorough investigation."
"Writing a statement like this is tragic and something that should never be necessary," the mayor wrote. "A young woman has lost her life, leaving her family in unbelievable grief. All of Fort Worth must surround Atatiana Jefferson’s family with prayers, love and support."
More than 10 black community leaders and pastors are addressing local residents about the shooting. Here’s pastor Michael Bell emotionally responding to the statement just put out by Fort Worth police: pic.twitter.com/aDLGjsol42 — Jack Howland (@JHowl04) October 12, 2019
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram interviewed a neighbor, who said he called a non-emergency police number so authorities could check on Jefferson. James Smith saw a door was open and got concerned. He told the Star-Telegram he was trying to be a good neighbor when he called police.
“I’m shaken. I’m mad. I’m upset. And I feel it’s partly my fault,” Smith told the Star-Telegram. “If I had never dialed the police department, she’d still be alive.”
James Smith said he saw the lights on and front doors open at his neighbor’s home overnight. He said he called a non emergency number for a wellness check. Smith said minutes later he heard a gunshot. @wfaa pic.twitter.com/7XYsVBCFz2 — Cleo Greene (@cgreeneWFAA) October 12, 2019
The shooting comes less than two weeks after a white former Dallas police officer was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing her black neighbor inside his own apartment. Amber Guyger said during her trial that mistook Botham Jean's apartment for her own, which was one floor below Jean's. Guyger, 31, was convicted of murder for Jean's September 2018 death.
Video: Fort Worth PD releases body camera video
Read the Fort Worth PD statement
This is a developing story, which has been updated and includes reporting from The Associated Press.
-edelweiss- on October 12nd, 2019 at 23:18 UTC »
Bodycam shows the officer walking around and never announcing his presence until a split second before he kills the woman in the house. So what she hears and sees is presumably someone walking around her property unannounced looking into her windows. Is it usual police procedure to just walk around a property and not announce your presence? Maybe a "Ma'am this is the Fort Worth Police Department" and try to get a response when he's at the front door would've helped? Odd and suspicious.
VESTINGboot on October 12nd, 2019 at 23:03 UTC »
After seeing the bodycam footage. This is ridiculous didnt say anything, didnt knock, and shot immediately without regard. This needs to be addressed immediately. Im so sorry for the young boy and her family.
cantproveidid on October 12nd, 2019 at 22:21 UTC »
"A firearm was found inside the home, authorities say. " In a Texas residence? Say it ain't so.
At least we know how they're hoping to play this.