• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Grand jury indicts Fort Worth officer for murder in shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson

Fort Worth officer

Aaron Dean was booked into the Tarrant County Jail Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. He resigned from the Fort Worth Police Department after he fatally shot Atatiana Jefferson in her home Oct. 12.(Tarrant County Jail)

December 20, 2019
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

Fort Worth, TX – The Fort Worth police officer who fatally shot a woman in her home while investigating a potential burglary report in October has been indicted for murder.

A Tarrant County grand jury handed down the indictment against now-former Fort Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean, 35, on Friday morning, KXAS reported.

The incident began at approximately 2:25 a.m. on Oct. 12, when Fort Worth police received a call from Atatiana Jefferson’s neighbor, James Smith, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported at the time.

Smith told the police dispatcher that he noticed his neighbor’s doors were open and their lights were still on, which was unusual for that time of night.

Moreover, the reporting party said that Jefferson, 28, lived at the East Allen Avenue home with her eight-year-old nephew.

Nevertheless, the call for service was dispatched as a potential burglary – not as a welfare check like her neighbor intended.

As a result, the officers responded to the call differently than they would have if the call would have been dispatched as a welfare check.

According to court documents, Jefferson’s nephew told police that he and his aunt were playing video games inside their home when they suddenly “heard noises coming from outside,” Law Officer reported.

Jefferson then retrieved a handgun from her purse and “pointed it toward the window,” at which point she “was shot and fell to the ground,” according to an arrest warrant.

Bodycam footage showed the officers as they checked on two open doors. They then made their way down a driveway to the back portion of the residence.

Dean opened a gate and came upon a darkened window to his right, the video showed.

“Put your hands up!” he suddenly ordered, with his duty weapon and flashlight pointed at the window. “Show me your hands!”

He then fired a single round, fatally wounding Jefferson, who died at the scene, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Atatiana Jefferson
A Tarrant County grand jury handed down the indictment against now-former Fort Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean. (Tarrant County Jail)

“Perceiving a threat, the officer drew his duty weapon and fired one shot striking the person inside the residence,” the FWPD said in a news release. “Officers entered the residence locating the individual and a firearm and began providing emergency medical care.”

Dean, who was hired by the FWPD in August of 2017, was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 13.

He resigned from the force the following day, just hours before he was arrested for murder, Law Officer reported.

“My intent was to meet with him today to terminate his employment with the Fort Worth Police Department, however, the officer tendered his resignation this morning before we met,” Chief Kraus said on Oct.14. “Even though he no longer works for the city, we continue the administrative investigation as if he did.”

Had he not resigned, Chief Kraus said he would have fired the officer “for violations of several policies,” to include the FWPD’s use-of-force, de-escalation, and unprofessional conduct policies.

He was taken to the Tarrant County Jail on $200,000 bond and was released after posting bail approximately three hours later.

Dean’s attorney, Jim Lane, called the officer-involved shooting a “tragedy,” KXAS reported.

Lane said that Dean has expressed remorse for what happened, and that his family “is in shock,” according to local news.

The date for Dean’s trial has not yet been announced.

 


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Aaron DeanAtatiana JeffersonFort Worth Police Departmentgrand jury
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Eric Lewis Moore

Shooting suspects captured by police vacuuming shell casings at car wash

April 13, 2022
Marissa Grimes

Body of missing woman found beneath home of man out on bond for threatening her

February 27, 2022
Forth Worth Police Department

Father of man fatally shot by police says, ‘Our family is heartbroken for the officers’

December 9, 2021
Jason Thornburg

Man arrested in triple homicide of dismembered bodies found burning in dumpster

September 28, 2021
David Lueras

Three dismembered bodies found ablaze in dumpster fire; one of the victims was a child

September 25, 2021
Derek Chauvin

DOJ had ‘backup’ plan to arrest Derek Chauvin if he was found not guilty

April 29, 2021
Load More

Latest Articles

sex trafficking operation

Traffic stop leads to rescue of kidnapped 13-year-old girl being transported for sex trafficking operation

June 25, 2022
Faith Rose Gratz

Guard in love with murderer brought him cellphones and meth to deal in prison

June 25, 2022
Monica Garcia

Former El Paso police officer receives prison sentence for helping stepfather distribute cocaine

June 25, 2022
Pennsylvania troopers

Pennsylvania troopers blast judge’s decision to dismiss woman’s murder charges

June 25, 2022
Vermont State Police

Troopers threatened with excavator while making arrest

June 25, 2022
terror attacks

DHS warns of potential terror attacks for weeks due to Roe v. Wade ruling

June 25, 2022
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

MUST READ

Vermont State Police

Troopers threatened with excavator while making arrest

June 25, 2022
Jeremiah Story

Arkansas detention officer shot and killed by suspect who retained gun while getting booked into jail

June 24, 2022
US Supreme Court

SCOTUS rules that police cannot be sued for Miranda violations

June 23, 2022
open carry

U.S. Supreme Court overturns New York law restricting the carrying of concealed firearms

June 23, 2022
Ruben Ruiz

Police officer husband of murdered Uvalde school teacher was detained, disarmed trying to rescue wife

June 23, 2022
Load More

JOIN THE FIGHT

SAFEGUARD RECRUITING

Police Officers Needed – Entry level and lateral applicants wanted!

February 14, 2022

Deputy Sheriff

February 3, 2022

Dispatcher

January 25, 2022

Deputy Sheriff (POST Certified)

January 25, 2022

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com