A former Fort Worth, Texas police officer who shot and killed 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson in her own home over the weekend has been arrested and charged with homicide, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Aaron Dean, 34, was responding to a call from a neighbor concerned that Jefferson’s door was open. Dean was apparently searching outside Jefferson’s home, saw her through a window and shot once, killing her. She was caring for her 8-year-old nephew at the time.
Authorities said they found a firearm inside the home, but never indicated that Jefferson had threatened to use it or that she even had it in her hands at the time. “The gun is irrelevant,” Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said Monday.
Interim Police Chief Ed Kraus said he had planned to fire Dean had he not resigned. Kraus said he anticipated giving a major update on the case Tuesday.
The FBI is also involved, investigating potential civil rights violations.
