Police Officer Aaron Dean Who Shot a Black Woman Found Guilty And Could Face 20yrs Imprisonment With $10000 Fine

Atatiana Jefferson, a 28-year-old Black woman who was shot to death in her Fort Worth, Texas, home in 2019, was determined by a jury to have been the victim of manslaughter by a former police officer, Aaron Dean.

According to Judge George Gallagher, the jury deliberated on both a murder charge and the lesser charge of manslaughter. In Texas, manslaughter is classified as a second-degree crime. A $10,000 fine and two to 20 years in prison are the possible penalties.

The jury will decide Dean’s sentence. At 10 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, the sentence phase will start.

Zion Carr, Jefferson’s now-11-year-old nephew, spoke to the jury for the whole of the five days of testimony. Zion Carr was present in the room when Jefferson was shot.

Additionally, the call centre representative who provided Dean and Darch with the information regarding Jefferson’s residence that evening as well as Dean himself testified before the jury. Additionally, Jurors heard from Richard Fries, the deputy medical examiner in Tarrant County, numerous additional Fort Worth cops and detectives, a forensics video specialist and law enforcement experts.

Dean stated that when he looked into the house via an open door, he thought there might be a burglary going on. Body camera footage from Dean’s entrance into the backyard shows Dean gazing into a house window.

He said that Zion and Jefferson were playing video games when they heard a noise. In his testimony, Zion claimed that his aunt had left the door ajar because they had earlier that evening burned hamburgers and were venting the smoke.

Zion stated that before approaching the window, Jefferson pulled her revolver out of her purse. According to police officials, Jefferson had every right to defend herself.

Dean can be heard yelling, “Put your hands up, show me your hands,” on body camera footage before shooting Jefferson with one shot through the window.

Before being arrested, Dean left the police force. According to Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus, Dean was about to lose his job for allegedly breaking several departmental rules.