Police Officer Shoots/Kills Woman In Her Own Home Without Identifying Himself

A 28-year-old black woman was shot and killed in the presence of her 8-year-old nephew by a white police officer in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday during what should have been a routine ‘welfare check.’ A neighbor had called the non-emergency police hotline after noticing Atatiana Jefferson’s front door was open around 2 am in the morning. He did not indicate he suspected any foul play or dangerous activites. He merely asked the police to check on his neighbor. Body-cam video shows the officer saw someone through a window in the home, then yelled, “Put your hands up, show me your hands.” He then fired a single shot at the woman less than a second later. The officer never identified himself as a police officer. From ABC News:

Relatives of the woman who was fatally shot identified her as Atatiana Jefferson, and said she worked as a human resources officer for a Fort Worth company and that she lived in the home with an 8-year-old nephew, Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA reported. During a news conference on Sunday afternoon, Fort Worth Police Lt. Brandon O’Neil said the officer who opened fire on Jefferson never identified himself as a police officer. “What the officer observed and why he did not announce ‘police’ will be addressed as the investigation continues,” O’Neil said.

JUST IN: Officer involved in fatal shooting of Atatiana Jefferson in her home has resigned, chief says, and still faces potential criminal charges.

“Had the officer not resigned, I would have fired him for violations of several policies.” https://t.co/BDAdgoaZ8i pic.twitter.com/pPKvF5GnMl

— ABC News (@ABC) October 14, 2019

#PressRelease – Officer Involved Shooting – Oct. 12, 2019 pic.twitter.com/tCvn4nySjg

— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) October 12, 2019