UPDATE: FT. WORTH (WBAP/KLIF) – Former Ft. Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean has been found guilty of manslaughter in the 2019 death of Atatiana Jefferson.
Jurors received the case Wednesday morning and returned the verdict Thursday afternoon.
Dean and his partner responded to an open-door call at Jefferson’s home and she was shot through a window in the backyard. Jefferson, who was at home playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew, grabbed her gun when she heard a noise in the backyard.
In testimony, Dean said he feared for his life and shot.
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FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF) – The jury began deliberating on Wednesday in the murder trial for former Fort Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean. The former Officer is accused of shooting Atatiana Jefferson to death through a bedroom window while responding to her family’s home in 2019.
Dean argues he was acting in self defense after seeing a silhouette with a gun. Prosecutors painted a picture of “bad Police work” and specifically pointed to Dean never identifying himself as a Police Officer.
“You don’t go to a house with a preconceived noting because you want to have that kind of power,” the [prosecution argued during closing arguments. “Haven’t we all met an Officer who just like being an Officer a little too much? I’ve been pulled over by those guys before.”
The defense said Dean thought the home was burglarized. His lawyers argued he was in fear for his life when he shot Jefferson.
“A tragedy doesn’t always equal a crime,” the defense said during closing. “It doesn’t always equal a law violation.”
Dean is charged with murder, but the jury has the option of convicting him on manslaughter. He could also be acquitted.
Listen to WBAP/KLIF report:
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