TX - Atatiana Jefferson, 28, fatally shot at home, Fort Worth, Oct 2019 *officer charged*

[Wishbone]

I don't have a problem with the term stalking; it is just the only & single word of what you wrote I could imagine anyone finding at all objectionable, much less dismissed as nonsense.

IMO, the reality of what happened speaks for itself,
and loudly enough that LE is uniformly condemning, not shielding Dean.

Well the party that didn't like my post is LE. Enough said.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano said Tuesday that former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean will have to prove to the jury that he had a "justifiable fear in his mind of physical harm" after killing 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson in her mother's home while responding to a call on Saturday.

Appearing on "America's Newsroom" with anchor Bill Hemmer, Napolitano explained that the claim would require Dean to demonstrate to the jury that he had that fear of harm to himself and that the "only way to address that fear was the use of physical force."

"This is a subjective test, meaning: 'Did the fear exist in his mind?' Not an objective test. The question is not, 'Was the fear rational?' The question is, 'Did the fear exist?'" he asked.
Former Fort Worth police officer must prove he had 'justifiable fear in his mind,' Judge Napolitano says

Did the fear exist in his mind. Geez, it seems a cop could argue they have fear in their mind every time they drive down the road, and start shooting everyone they see because you just never know. Pretty ridiculous, there has to be a line somewhere. If this case even goes to trial it will be a blow to common sense.

 

[SandyQLS]

According to the arrest affidavit, Jefferson was inside a bedroom playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew moments before the shooting. The 8-year-old boy told police Jefferson heard noises coming from outside and that she grabbed her handgun.

The boy said she had the handgun raised and pointed toward the window. This is when Jefferson was shot.

According to the affidavit, Dean declined to give an interview to police about his account and has not given a written statement, either.
Affidavit: Former Officer, Aaron Dean, Charged With Murder Hasn't Talked To Police About Shooting Atatiana Jefferson

"... The boy said she had the handgun raised and pointed toward the window. This is when Jefferson was shot. ..."

Exactly. She pointed a loaded gun at a police officer who was in response to an open structure call, not a welfare check, at 2:30AM on a weekend night in the highest crime area of Fort Worth. Period.

In the body camera footage there is another officer's back captured on film moments before the shot was fired. The officer fired in defense of self and the other officer.

It's tragic, but this is not a crime. The charge of murder is political. Imo this interim chief can count the hours until he is forced into retirement. He was wrong to say the still frame of the gun shouldn't have been released. He was wrong to rush to judgment and he does not have his officers backs, now they don't have his.

 

[Hraefn]

"... The boy said she had the handgun raised and pointed toward the window. This is when Jefferson was shot. ..."

Exactly. She pointed a loaded gun at a police officer who was in response to an open structure call, not a welfare check, at 2:30AM on a weekend night in the highest crime area of Fort Worth. Period.

In the body camera footage there is another officer's back captured on film moments before the shot was fired. The officer fired in defense of self and the other officer.

It's tragic, but this is not a crime. The charge of murder is political. Imo this interim chief can count the hours until he is forced into retirement. He was wrong to say the still frame of the gun shouldn't have been released. He was wrong to rush to judgment and he does not have his officers backs, now they don't have his.[/B]

So you think the officer has a valid self defense claim and the shooting was legally justified?

 

[Momof4RN]

"... The boy said she had the handgun raised and pointed toward the window. This is when Jefferson was shot. ..."

Exactly. She pointed a loaded gun at a police officer who was in response to an open structure call, not a welfare check, at 2:30AM on a weekend night in the highest crime area of Fort Worth. Period.

In the body camera footage there is another officer's back captured on film moments before the shot was fired. The officer fired in defense of self and the other officer.

It's tragic, but this is not a crime. The charge of murder is political. Imo this interim chief can count the hours until he is forced into retirement. He was wrong to say the still frame of the gun shouldn't have been released. He was wrong to rush to judgment and he does not have his officers backs, now they don't have his.[/B]

Wait I missed that his officers don’t have his back! Please provide link with that info. Tia

 

[Momof4RN]

"... The boy said she had the handgun raised and pointed toward the window. This is when Jefferson was shot. ..."

Exactly. She pointed a loaded gun at a police officer who was in response to an open structure call, not a welfare check, at 2:30AM on a weekend night in the highest crime area of Fort Worth. Period.

In the body camera footage there is another officer's back captured on film moments before the shot was fired. The officer fired in defense of self and the other officer.

It's tragic, but this is not a crime. The charge of murder is political. Imo this interim chief can count the hours until he is forced into retirement. He was wrong to say the still frame of the gun shouldn't have been released. He was wrong to rush to judgment and he does not have his officers backs, now they don't have his.[/B]

Just to clarify. I saw a face in the body camera footage of the other officer. In the arrest warrant that other officer stated she saw AJ’s face.

 

[Hraefn]

Just to clarify. I saw a face in the body camera footage of the other officer. In the arrest warrant that other officer stated she saw AJ’s face.

Do you have a link handy to the other officer’s body cam footage? I missed it. Thanks!

 

[grammieto5]

"... The boy said she had the handgun raised and pointed toward the window. This is when Jefferson was shot. ..."

Exactly. She pointed a loaded gun at a police officer who was in response to an open structure call, not a welfare check, at 2:30AM on a weekend night in the highest crime area of Fort Worth. Period.

In the body camera footage there is another officer's back captured on film moments before the shot was fired. The officer fired in defense of self and the other officer.

It's tragic, but this is not a crime. The charge of murder is political. Imo this interim chief can count the hours until he is forced into retirement. He was wrong to say the still frame of the gun shouldn't have been released. He was wrong to rush to judgment and he does not have his officers backs, now they don't have his.[/B]

So are you saying whoa…. wait a minute. To borrow a quote from Hope4More “never mind”

 

[asyousay]

Just imagine if he now gets off as if the witness is staying his aunt had a gun pointed outside then the cop was justified in shooting her.

It’s crazy old world in the America it seems.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

"... The boy said she had the handgun raised and pointed toward the window. This is when Jefferson was shot. ..."

Exactly. She pointed a loaded gun at a police officer who was in response to an open structure call, not a welfare check, at 2:30AM on a weekend night in the highest crime area of Fort Worth. Period.

In the body camera footage there is another officer's back captured on film moments before the shot was fired. The officer fired in defense of self and the other officer.

It's tragic, but this is not a crime. The charge of murder is political. Imo this interim chief can count the hours until he is forced into retirement. He was wrong to say the still frame of the gun shouldn't have been released. He was wrong to rush to judgment and he does not have his officers backs, now they don't have his.[/B]

What? She had a gun pointed at a prowler outside her home, as was her right to do. As the officer perceived her as a threat, she perceived him as a threat. She has the right to defend herself. The officer never even bothered to identify himself as such. Case closed. Not a crime? We'll see how much time this officer serves whether it's a crime or not, I guess.

 

[Cortne]

Wait I missed that his officers don’t have his back! Please provide link with that info. Tia

I dont have a link but local AM radio talked this morning about how his colleagues do not have his back, that they are all upset w him.

 

[Momof4RN]

Do you have a link handy to the other officer’s body cam footage? I missed it. Thanks!

No my wording is bad here sorry. On officer Dean’s body Cam footage I caught the face of the other officer.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Chief Kraus: #AaronDean was arrested at his attorney's office last night. "I ask you to please not let the actions of one officer reflect on the other 1,700. There is no excuse, the person responsible will be held accountable."
@fortworthpd
Chief Kraus: "We are bringing in an independent third party to evaluate our practices, policies and procedures to ensure we are above best practices standards." Doesn't know what #AaronDean felt, didn't speak to investigators
@CourthouseNews

Thank you for the link.

Very wise words coming from the Chief.

Will those words of wisdom be heeded?

Imo, based on other cases, I highly doubt it will be.

Instead not only all in his department, but all LEOs everywhere will be identified, not as individuals like all humans are, but collectively in one identity box as all the same, which is guilty of course according to so many now.

Just like I see some assume that new police officers are substandard somehow ...even though all who have long served while being way underpaid. Never mind they all have had the same high standards including even more training now ..along with psychological testing.

Imo, 99+ percent who have served, and continued to do so.. in order to give back, and protect their own communities where their own families live. It's become rather commonplace now even in smaller towns/counties for officers to have college degrees.

LEOs wanting to protect, and serve now under the most toxic atmosphere against them... does so for the right reasons.. even though they know they can, and DO become kill targets by those filled with blind dangerous hatred.

It shows this one bad cop or any of the others, does NOT even begin to define most all of them.. who selflessly put their own lives on the line every single day.... even though they know they are constantly vilified, and hated by some in the very communities they have sworn to serve, and protect.

This ONE shouldn't have ever become a police officer, but tragically in all professions there are always a few bad apples. Look at all the workplace violence of offenders who are murdering victims in mass even recently?

This one cop, and those who have been ruled unjustifiable in killing any victim... like lovely Atatiana.. should pay the same price as any other murderer, no matter the profession or even if they didnt have a legitimate or a legal job at the time.

However, what shouldn't ever happen in our nation is for the 1.2 million brothers, and sisters in blue to carry the same guilt for what a few other individuals have done.

That would be as unfair, and as illogical as finding everyone else guilty based solely on what other individuals have done.

Jmhoo

 

[Momof4RN]

I dont have a link but local AM radio talked this morning about how his colleagues do not have his back, that they are all upset w him.

Well shoot thanks. Hope there is more to come and printed on that. I certainly want to hear both sides of the story here.

 

[Charlot123]

There are consequences for being impulsive. Most of the murders I've seen are just that. Impulsive heat of the moment reactions. Does that make them less deadly and not deserving of punishment? Our society says NO. Just as it says ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law. Just as it says this LEO did not follow procedure and announce himself.

True. And it all started with them not following the procedure. (I assume they thought they were interrupting burglary, or something like it). But yelling "hands up" and not giving the person the time to even raise her hands up is different. This is how people react in panic. So maybe it is hardwired in some, panicking and reacting in the most erroneous way, and then the training exacerbates the trend?

I am surprised, the police has other means to do safety check, the cell phone numbers of the owners of the house, did they call them? Checking who owns the house, at least. There are many things that could have been done...

Some statistical data... disturbing

Mapping Police Violence

This Wikipedia article is also interesting. Apparently, things first got bad with the Prohibition.

Police brutality in the United States - Wikipedia

 

[Hraefn]

No my wording is bad here sorry. On officer Dean’s body Cam footage I caught the face of the other officer.

Ohh I get what you mean, my mistake!

 

[SandyQLS]

Wait I missed that his officers don’t have his back! Please provide link with that info. Tia

I clearly posted "imo". I don't need a link.

 

[SandyQLS]

So you think the officer has a valid self defense claim and the shooting was legally justified?

Yes.

 

[Hraefn]

Yes.

Do you think Atatiana had a right to defend her home with deadly force under the TX castle doctrine?

 

[SandyQLS]

What? She had a gun pointed at a prowler outside her home, as was her right to do. As the officer perceived her as a threat, she perceived him as a threat. She has the right to defend herself. The officer never even bothered to identify himself as such. Case closed. Not a crime? We'll see how much time this officer serves whether it's a crime or not, I guess.

The officer had a right and a duty to defend himself, the other officer and the public. It's very tragic.