US: Police who killed black woman charged with murder

ANKARA

A former police officer in Fort Worth, Texas was arrested and charged with murder on Monday after shooting a black woman inside her home, according to local law enforcement.

"Aaron Dean was arrested by Fort Worth Police on Oct. 14. Dean has been charged with the murder of Atatiana Jefferson," the city police department said on Twitter. "Dean is in the Tarrant County Jail."

The bond for Dean was set at $200,000, according to Tarrant County's website.

"We continue to acknowledge that this is a tough and tragic event not only for her family, but for our hurting community as well," local police said in a statement.

"The officer who shot Atatiana was served his written administrative complaint on Sunday. At that time, he was also placed on detached duty and stripped of his badge and firearm," Chief Ed Kraus said in a news conference on Monday.

"Had the officer not resigned, I would have fired him for violations of several policies, including our use of force policy, our de-escalation policy and unprofessional conduct," said Kraus.

"It's another one of those situations where the people that are supposed to protect us are actually not here to protect us," Jefferson's sister, Amber Carr, told KTVT.

Lee Merritt, an attorney for Jefferson's family, said on Twitter that the family was relieved after Dean was arrested and charged, but demanded an independent investigation.

"We need to see this through to a vigorous prosecution & appropriate sentencing," Merritt said, adding: "The City of Fort Worth has much work to do to reform a brutal culture of policing."

Kraus will hold a news conference on Tuesday to provide additional information.

Atatiana Jefferson was killed by Dean on Saturday morning through a window of her house.

A total of 709 people have been shot and killed in the U.S. by police in 2019, according to Washington Post data.

247 of those killed in 2019 were blacks and Hispanics.