Atatiana Jefferson Shot to Death by Police in Her Own Home

Fort Worth Police officers fatally shot a 28-year-old woman named Atatiana Jefferson. She is the ninth person to be killed by officers in Forth Worth, Texas this year. 

In the early morning hours on Saturday, a neighbor called the non-emergency number for a wellness check on Jefferson. The neighbor said he saw her house door open, so he called the non-emergency number so they could inspect. A body camera video footage that was released shows a white officer investigating around the house with his gun, seconds later Jefferson went to her window to see what was going on, that is when he screams “Put your hands up! Show me your hands!” and shoots her instantly.

Jefferson was playing videogames in her home with her 8-year-old nephew at the time. 

The officer gave Atatiana Jefferson four seconds to respond before shooting and killing her.

Being Black in your own home shouldn't be a death sentence. https://t.co/92CLDWm85Y

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 13, 2019

The Fort Worth Police Department stated that they entered the home to assist Jefferson, but she died on the scene. The name of the white officer has yet to be released, though he was placed on administrative leave. He’s been on the force for a year. 

“It’s another one of those situations where the people that are supposed to protect us are actually not here to protect us,” Jefferson’s sister, Amber Carr, told KTVT. “You know, you want to see justice, but justice don’t bring my sister back.”

Jefferson was a pre-med student and a 2014 graduate from Xavier University with a bachelor of science degree in biology.

People have taken to social media to show their support for Jefferson’s loved ones and to express their outrage for yet another killing at the hands of a police officer in America.

https://twitter.com/JamiraBurley/status/1183173558643630080

New York Times reporter, Nikole Hannah Jones tweeted, “I just want to know: Are police highly trained and skilled or what? Because if we can’t expect better than this than maybe we shouldn’t have police at all.”

Activist, educator, and writer, Brittany Packnett tweeted, “When we tell you we don’t have to be anything other than Black to be killed by those sworn to ‘serve and protect,’ believe us. The first time. Your denial continues to harm us because the police keep killing us. Just for existing. #AtatianaJefferson“

I wanted to paint the last thing pre-Med graduate Atatiana Jefferson was doing before she was killed by the cops…
Her Life Mattered.#AtatianaJefferson #TayJefferson #DallasFortWorth #FWPD pic.twitter.com/xiavrFO0pX

— NIKKOLAS (@4NIKKOLAS) October 13, 2019

Author Angie Thomas, who wrote The Hate You Give, tweeted, “I’m tired of learning new names. I’m tired of Black people becoming hashtags instead of living full lives. I’m tired of the trauma. I’m tired of realizing we aren’t even safe in our own homes. I’m tired. Say her name: #AtatianaJefferson.”