Atatiana Koquice Jefferson

People

Atatiana Koquice Jefferson

Outcome

unknown

On October 12, 2019, at approximately 2:28 a.m., Atatiana Jefferson, a 28-year-old Black woman, was shot and killed by Fort Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean while inside her mother's home. Jefferson was babysitting her 8-year-old nephew, Zion Carr, and was shot through a bedroom window after Dean entered the backyard without identifying himself as police. Dean was later convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison. Earlier that evening, Jefferson and her nephew had been playing video games. After Zion burned some hamburgers he was cooking, they opened the front door to air out the house. At approximately 2:38 a.m., a concerned neighbor, James Smith, called 911 to report that the front door had been open for several hours—unusual for that time of night. The call was dispatched as an "Open Structure" call (typically related to potential burglary) rather than a welfare check. Officers Dean and Carol Darch responded but did not park near the home, knock on the door, or identify themselves as police at any point. Dean entered the backyard with his flashlight and weapon drawn. Jefferson, hearing noises outside and seeing a flashlight in the backyard, retrieved her legally owned handgun to investigate. When Dean saw Jefferson through the bedroom window, he shouted "Put your hands up! Show me your hands!" and fired a single shot through the window within seconds—before Jefferson could comply or understand who was outside. Jefferson died at the scene. Her nephew witnessed the shooting. Police later confirmed Jefferson had every right to arm herself when hearing unknown intruders in her backyard. Dean admitted during trial that his actions constituted "bad police work," including firing without seeing her hands or what was behind her, failing to tell his partner he saw a gun, and rushing into the home without ensuring it was safe. Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus stated that Dean resigned before he could be fired for violating departmental policies on use of force, de-escalation, and unprofessional conduct. On December 15, 2022, after more than 13 hours of deliberation, a jury found Dean not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. On December 20, 2022, he was sentenced to 11 years, 10 months, and 12 days in prison. Dean is currently incarcerated at the Ramsey Unit in Rosharon, Texas. The City of Fort Worth approved a $3.5 million settlement for Zion Carr, who witnessed his aunt's killing. A civil lawsuit by Jefferson's estate against Dean and the city is ongoing, with Dean seeking qualified immunity.