‘Unimaginable Loss’: Fort Worth Approves $11.5 Million Settlement for Family of Black Texas Woman Killed by Cop Conducting Welfare Check in 2019
It’s been nearly seven years since Atatiana Jefferson was shot and killed in her home by a former Fort Worth, Texas, police officer. Now, the city has awarded the family a settlement.
The agreement, approved on Tuesday, resolves civil claims related to Jefferson’s death, the Fort Worth Report said.
The council would still need a probate court to approve the settlement before it is finalized.
The agreement gives Jefferson’s two nephews, who are minors, a larger share of the settlement. It would also put the money in trusts for the boys until they turn 18.
The remainder will be divided among Jefferson’s surviving family members.
“Atatiana Jefferson’s family and loved ones have suffered a profound and unimaginable loss,” Mayor Mattie Parker told NBC5.
What Happened?
In October 2019, Jefferson was shot and killed by former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean. He was called to the home around 2:30 a.m. to perform a welfare check after a concerned neighbor saw the front door left open. Jefferson had opened the door to air out the house after some burgers she was cooking left the home too smoky.
She was reportedly playing video games with her then-8-year-old nephew, Zion Carr, before the shooting. When she heard a noise, she reportedly grabbed her purse, grabbed her gun, and went to a side window overlooking the darkened yard. That’s when Dean, who was making his way around the house, spotted her through the open curtains and shot her.
The officer resigned in the following days before being arrested for Jefferson’s killing. He was originally charged with murder, but the judge asked jurors to consider the lesser charge.
Legal Battle Begins
Dean’s attorneys argued that he fired his weapon in self-defense while fearing for his life in what they said was a tragic accident, not a criminal act.
“The state cannot prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt that this was not self-defense,” Dean’s attorney said at trial, according to CNN. “It’s tragic, but is not an offense under the state of Texas.”
But prosecutors argued that Dean had a “tremendous amount of power” when he put on his uniform compared to Jefferson.
“When you put on that badge, and you put on that uniform, you say you’re going to serve and protect us all. That means her too,” prosecutors said, according to CNN.
In 2022, Dean was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Atlanta Black Star previously reported that the neighbor who called 911 that day, James Smith, attended the hearing wearing a button with Jefferson’s face on it.
“This button is a reflection of a vision in my mind that will probably never leave. You can’t see it, but that’s why I wear the button. So, she can be seen and remembered in the city of Fort Worth,” he said.
Jefferson’s Nephew Gets Financial Assistance
In 2023, the Fort Worth City Council finalized a $3.5 million settlement filed on behalf of Carr, Jefferson’s nephew, who witnessed the shooting. The current settlement resolves a suit filed by her estate.
Atlanta Black Star previously reported that Carr’s mother, Amber, passed away in January 2023 from congestive heart failure.
“While no settlement can undo the devastating impact of this tragedy, we hope this agreement offers a meaningful measure of closure and allows everyone to move forward,” Parker said.
In a statement to Fort Worth Report, Jefferson’s sister, Ashley Carr, emphasized that while the settlement represents some form of accountability for the family, the financial agreement does not erase her family’s loss.
“Neither a conviction nor a financial settlement can restore what was taken from our family,” she said. “Nothing can bring Atatiana home.”
Atlanta Black Star reached out to Carr, but she said she wants to discuss the case once the settlement is approved.