Police officer charged with murder after shooting woman through window of her home

The suspect has resigned over the incident 
Ellena Cruse15 October 2019

A police officer is in custody charged with murder after a young woman was shot dead in her own home.

Atatiana Jefferson died on Saturday around 2.30am in Texas after officer Aaron Dean fired a single shot through her window as she cared for her 8-year-old nephew.

The police officer was said to be responding to a call from a concerned neighbour who worried that Jefferson's door was open.

Body camera video footage shows Dean and his partner approaching Jefferson's home with flashlights.

Atatiana Jefferson was shot in her own home while babysitting
AP

As Dean looks through a bedroom window, he is hearing shouting at Jefferson to "put your hands up, show me your hands," before firing.

He was not heard identifying himself as police on the video.

Fort Worth Police confirmed that the officer has resigned from the state department and has been charged with murder.

Interim police chief Edwin Kraus said he was unable to "make sense" of the incident.

Interim Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus speaks about the incident at a press conference
AP

He said the only time police should fire into an occupied home was if they were fired upon from within.

"Had the officer not resigned, I would have fired him for violations of several policies," he added. "Despite his resignation, the officer still faces criminal charges."

Chief Kraus said police had presented the case to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to review Dean's actions for possible civil rights violations.

Ms Jefferson's family were at the press conference about the killing
AP

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said the city would bring in a panel of national experts to review police actions.

"There is nothing that can justify what happened on Saturday morning, nothing," Price said.

Jefferson was shot dead the same month former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was convicted of shooting and killing unarmed black man Botham Jean inside his own apartment.

The National Black Police Association today said “the death of black citizens by white officers has reached critical mass.”

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