Vigil Planned for Fort Worth Woman Killed by Police

Two organizations in Fort Worth held a candlelight vigil for the 28-year-old woman killed by a police officer responding to a wellness call at her home over the weekend. Emancipate Fort Worth and the Tarrant County Local Organizing Committee demanded accountability Sunday evening from city officials and the police department.

Thousands of black Americans, including Higher Education Administrator Dr. TaJuan Wilson, used social media over the weekend to express profound sadness over yet another police-involved shooting. This time the victim was Atatiana Jefferson who was in her own home when the officer shot through a window and killed her after a neighbor called police because Jefferson’s front door was open.

“I know it is easy to become desensitized because this happens to us way too often, but please never stop caring,” Wilson said. “It could just as easily be me or someone else you know and love. It’s unacceptable to be killed by those paid to protect and serve. We need reform and real accountability, and we need it now!”

Bodycam video shows the officer outside Jefferson’s bedroom shouting, “Put your hands up! Show me your hands!” Jefferson and her eight-year-old nephew had been playing video games moments before the shooting.

“We [African-Americans] aren’t safe anywhere – not even in the comfort of our own homes,” Wilson said. “Many people have said, ‘I can’t believe this happened again.’”

Non-Emergency Call

The neighbor who called police to check on Jefferson’s home told local television station WFAA that he called a non-emergency number for a wellness check.

“No domestic violence, no arguing,” James Smith said. “Nothing that they should have been concerned with, as far as them coming with guns drawn to my neighbor’s house…she wasn’t a threat.”

According to Civil Rights attorney Lee Merritt, Jefferson was a pre-medicine major who graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans. She had come home to care for her ailing mother and was working in pharmaceutical equipment sales. Merritt organized a GoFundMe page for Jefferson, writing “We must have justice. This fund is the only direct campaign to offer support to the family of Atatiana Jefferson. Funds collected will go directly to funeral cost and other expenses associated with this tragedy.” Nine hours after the fund was established, the $100,000 goal had been exceeded.

Just miles away in Dallas, literary consultant Patrick Oliver spent the afternoon in the park with his 11-year-old nephew and decried the tragedy that ended Jefferson’s life as she spent time with her nephew.

“It is appalling, sickening, and clearly it is a sign of America has no feelings for people of color,” explained Oliver. “It’s shoot first…ask questions later. It continuously happens over and over. The officer should be arrested today and charged today. It’s terrible…when does it end?”