Fort Worth Woman Shot Dead By Police After Neighbor Requests Welfare Check, Her Father References Amber Guyger Sentencing: “I don’t want no hug! That’s my one and only daughter!”

Fort Worth Woman Shot Dead By Police After Neighbor Requests Welfare Check, Her Father References Amber Guyger Sentencing: “I don’t want no hug! That’s my one and only daughter!”

Another shocking death involving Texas police is dominating the news. Just days after former Dallas police officer, Amber Guyger, was sentenced for the senseless shooting death of her neighbor, Botham Jean – 28-year-old woman, Atatiana Jefferson is the most recent subject of death at the hands of law enforcement.

Atatiana Jefferson

Atatiana’s neighbor, James Smith, says he noticed that her doors had been wide open with all of her home’s lights on since about 10PM that night when he called the non-emergency police number to perform a welfare check on her at around 2AM. He says he was simply trying to make sure she and her 8-year-old nephew were unharmed:

“I’m shaken. I’m mad. I’m upset. And I feel it’s partly my fault. If I had never dialed the police department, she’d still be alive.”

What transpired afterwards is much more chilling. Body camera footage shows the unnamed officer circling Atatiana Jefferson’s home, pointing his flashlight at several areas. When he spotted someone standing near her window, he yelled:

“Put your hands up! Show me your hands!”

As shown, he waited merely seconds before shooting into her window – which after attempting medical care inside her home, ultimately killed the young woman. This case is eerily similar to Botham Jean’s in the aspects that another African-American was killed at the hands of police in the same area of Texas, and both victims’ families are repped by civil rights attorney, Lee Merritt. Just like in Botham’s case, the family is requesting that an independent investigation take place outside of internal investigation within the police department. Lee Merritt commented:

“We don’t think that Fort Worth police should be investigating it on their own.”

But, Atatiana’s family rejects the outcome of Amber Guyger’s controversial sentencing. Her father, Marquis Jefferson, said this about her murder:

“I don’t want no hug. That’s my one and only daughter. I’ll never forget that.”

The officer has been placed on administrative leave. Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price released a statement saying that Police Chief Ed Kraus and team will:

“…act with immediacy and transparency to conduct a complete and thorough investigation.”

She continued:

“Writing a statement like this is tragic and something that should never be necessary. A young woman has lost her life, leaving her family in unbelievable grief. All of Fort Worth must surround Atatiana Jefferson’s family with prayers, love and support.”

Atatiana Jefferson’s family is just shy of meeting their $150,000 GoFundMe goal for her services and investigation.

Written by Miata Shanay