Jury Finds Former Texas Police Officer Guilty of Manslaughter in Shooting Death of Atatiana Jefferson

Aaron Dean listens to testimony during the sentencing phase of his trial at Tarrant County's 396th District Court on Dec. 16, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Amanda McCoy/Star-Telegram via AP, Pool)

Former Fort Worth, Texas, police officer Aaron Dean has been found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson.

A Tarrant County jury of eight men and six women deliberated for more than 13 hours before reaching its verdict on Thursday afternoon. The jury rejected the more serious charge of murder.

The sentencing phase started Friday for Dean, 38, who is in custody at the Tarrant County jail in Fort Worth. He is facing two to 20 years in prison.

Jefferson, who was studying to become a doctor, was inside her mother’s home when Dean fatally shot her in the early morning hours on Oct. 12, 2019.

Dean and his partner had responded to an “open structure” call at about 2:30 a.m. after a neighbor noticed the doors to the home were open and lights were on inside. Jefferson and her 8-year-old nephew, Zion Carr, had stayed up late that night playing video games.

Upon arriving at the scene, Dean’s body camera was activated. The uniformed officers did not announce themselves as they began looking around the property and making their way through a gate into the backyard.

According to the arrest warrant, Jefferson heard a noise in the backyard and grabbed her gun from her purse.

Dean saw someone through a window. He fired one shot from his service weapon, striking Jefferson, who was standing in a bedroom. The woman screamed and fell to the ground.

Jefferson died at the scene. Her gun was found on the floor near her body after the officers went inside the home.

Atatiana Koquice Jefferson, 28, was shot and killed by a police officer in her Fort Worth, Texas home after a neighbor called dispatchers to report the woman's front door was open, police said. (Courtesy of Lee Merritt)

Two days after the shooting, Dean resigned from the police department and declined to provide a written statement detailing his account of the incident. He was arrested later the same day and charged with murder.

5-Day Trial

Judge George Gallagher of the 396th District Court presided over the five-day trial where witnesses from both sides, including Dean, his ex-partner Carol Darch, and Jefferson’s nephew, testified to either defend or condemn the former officer.

Dean took the stand in his own defense on Monday.

He testified that while standing in the backyard, he saw a silhouette through a window and believed there was movement.

Dean, who cried during his testimony, told jurors that he could only see the upper arms of the body and that he began shouting commands to “put up your hands, show me your hands.”

Prosecutors throughout the trial argued that Dean went on that call looking for action and that he violated his training and abused his power.

“I know you’re crying now, but you weren’t crying when you decided not to administer CPR to Tatiana,” prosecutor Dale Smith said to the defendant during his cross-examination.

One expert testified that Dean’s actions were within reason for the situation.

“Officer Dean’s actions that night—and yes, this is a terrible event, there’s nothing good about this,” law professor Jay Coons said on the stand. “But his actions as a police officer were reasonable in what he was doing.”

Defense attorney Bob Gill said Dean acted within his police training to meet deadly force with deadly force. On the stand, Dean said he saw the barrel of Jefferson’s gun.

During the defense’s closing arguments on Tuesday, Gill agreed that the situation was tragic.

“This is a tragedy. It was a tragedy on that day, and it will continue to be one,” Gill said. “But a tragedy doesn’t always equate to a crime.”

He said that Jefferson had a right to defend herself and her nephew until she pointed a gun at a police officer.

“Aaron’s actions were justified. He was sent out there by his department to do a job. He reasonably believed that his deadly force was necessary against her because it’s universally against the law in the state of Texas to point a gun at a uniformed police officer,” Gill continued.

Assistant County District Attorney Ashlea Deener said Jefferson was within her rights inside her home, trying to protect herself and her nephew.

“If you can’t feel safe in your own home, where can you feel safe?” Deener asked during closing arguments.

Deener told the jury they held power to show Jefferson’s family that her life mattered.

“The power you have today is to hold him responsible, it’s to tell them that it all wasn’t in vain, it’s to say that she matters,” the prosecutor said.

Jury Decision

The jury began deliberations at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. They stayed until 7 p.m. before being sequestered.

Thursday afternoon, they returned to the courtroom with their decision.

Dean stood motionless as the judge read the guilty verdict.

Jefferson’s family left the courtroom immediately after the verdict.

Some community and state leaders issued statements in reaction to the verdict.

“Today’s verdict provides a measure of justice, though it does not change the fact that a tragedy occurred that should have never happened. This tragedy for me has always been about Atatiana Jefferson - about her life as a daughter, sister, and aunt, and her lasting legacy,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker wrote in a statement.

“Many people in our community are hurting, and we must come together with compassion and grace. Our prayers are with the jury as they continue their service in the sentencing phase. May God bless Atatiana’s memory and continue to be with her family.”

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas 33rd District) wrote that the guilty verdict was one small step into delivering justice for Atatiana Jefferson and her family.

“While this verdict means the officer who killed Atatiana will finally be held accountable for his actions, it will never give Atatiana her life back or return her to her family,” Veasey wrote.

“The verdict underscores the important work that needs to be done locally and nationally to ensure a tragedy like this one does not happen again. Going forward, the Tarrant County District Attorney must thoroughly and properly investigate cases like this and fight hard enough for fair jury representation. It’s time for the city of Fort Worth to create a civilian police review board that boosts transparency and accountability.”

On Friday morning, Parker and City Councilman Chris Nettles, who has been outspoken about the case, appeared before Judge Gallagher at a contempt of court hearing for allegedly violating a gag order, KXAS News reported.

Nettles represents the area where Jefferson resided when she was killed.

Both Parker and Nettles were ordered to appear at a hearing on Jan. 4, 2023.