Atatiana Jefferson’s 8-year-old nephew described the moments before his aunt was fatally shot by a Forth Worth cop early Saturday.
Jefferson, 28, was gunned down by a rookie cop as she peered out her bedroom window after hearing what she thought was a prowler in her yard.
Fort Worth police say the unidentified cop shot Jefferson through her bedroom window because he “perceived a threat.” Police did not clarify the threat.
Twitter activist Shaun King tweeted that Fort Worth police are giving the killer cop special treatment.
“We’ve been told that the @FortWorthPD has been deliberately hiding the name of the officer who murdered #AtatianaJefferson so that he can wipe all of his social media clean,” King tweeted on Sunday. “Not one single justifiable reason exists for hiding his identity.”
We’ve been told that the @FortWorthPD has been deliberately hiding the name of the officer who murdered #AtatianaJefferson so that he can wipe all of his social media clean.
Not one single justifiable reason exists for hiding his identity.
— Shaun King (@shaunking) October 14, 2019
The 8-year-old boy was in Jefferson’s bedroom playing a video game when they thought they heard a prowler in the backyard, said the family’s attorney S. Lee Merritt.
“They looked at each other and listened more intently when they heard it again,” Merritt said in a social media post. “Someone was outside.”
Merritt said the nephew described how his aunt went to the window to see who was there.
“Suddenly a man’s voice was screaming something he couldn’t make out, and then ‘bang,'” Merritt said. Jefferson fell to the floor. Merritt said he didn’t ask the child what he saw next because he didn’t want him “to have to relive that” moment.
“I’m hurt. I’m angry. I’m a little afraid when I’m honest,” Merritt said. “I hate this happened to (the nephew). I hate it happened to Tay and her beautiful family. This has to stop now. Enough.”
Jefferson was killed after next-door neighbor James Smith, 62, called a non-emergency number to request a welfare check because his neighbor’s front door was wide open at 2:30 a.m.
The boy told Merritt they left the door open to get some fresh air and they lost track of time.
Two officers arrived six minutes later and walked around the exterior of the house.
Smith said he heard police shout “Put your hands up, show me your hands!” before hearing a single gunshot.
Body cam video shows Jefferson didn’t have enough time to react to the cop’s orders before he opened fire through her bedroom window.
Jefferson lived in the home with her mother who is hospitalized and wasn’t at home at the time of the shooting.
Jefferson, who was black, worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative. The cop, who is white, was on the police force for only 18 months. He is currently on paid leave.
The college graduate’s case is being compared to that of Botham Jean, who was killed in his own apartment by former Dallas cop Amber Guyger on Sept. 6, 2018.
Guyger, 31, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this month.
Merritt said the cop who shot Jefferson did not identify himself as a police officer before he fired.
“As if killing this gentle sister wasn’t enough, I ask myself what would have happened if (the nephew) was the one to look out the window,” Merritt said on social media. “Why is this a reality at all for either of them? I am truly heartbroken by this. We must have justice quickly. It cannot wait.”
MY BLOOD IS BOILING.
The Fort Worth Police shot and killed 28 year old Atatiana Jefferson in her own home.
They shot her through her bedroom window. She broke no laws and did nothing wrong! Police were called to investigate an open door.
We are demanding justice RIGHT NOW. pic.twitter.com/FvrspEXdeZ
— Shaun King (@shaunking) October 13, 2019
