FORT WORTH, Texas — Defense lawyers rested their case Tuesday in the murder trial of former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean, who fatally shot a Black woman in her mother’s home more than three years ago.
Dean, 38, killed Atatiana Jefferson in the early morning hours of Oct. 12, 2019 while responding to a call. A concerned neighbor called a nonemergency police line about 2:30 a.m. because doors at the home were open and lights were on inside.
Jefferson, 28, was playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew when she heard a noise in the backyard and armed herself. The doors were open, her nephew testified, because they burned hamburgers and were airing out the smoke. Dean and a fellow officer did not announce themselves when they arrived at the East Fort Worth home or when they walked around the house, through a gate and into the backyard, according to testimony. Dean shot through a window into her bedroom.
Prosecutors could present rebuttal witnesses or evidence after a lunch break Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors rested their case after three days last week. They did not call a use of force expert to testify whether Dean’s deadly force was justified. Whether Dean, who is white, saw Jefferson’s gun is a key issue for the Tarrant County jury.
Jay Coons, a professor at Sam Houston State University, who testified Tuesday morning for the defense said Dean’s actions as a police officer were reasonable. He told jurors the officers “didn’t know what they had” other than an open door.
“Police officers are trained that when a firearm is pointed at you, shoot that individual, you are in extreme danger, you are in danger of being shot and killed,” Coons said. “As far as the training, as far as your options as a human being, it’s down to one decision — one decision only.”
Adarius and Ashley Carr, Jefferson’s siblings, passed notes as Coons testified. One of Jefferson’s relatives read from a daily prayer devotional. Dean wrote feverishly as Coons stood and gave a demo to the jury.
The former officer took the stand in his defense for about four hours Monday. He said he saw Jefferson’s gun through the window. In opening statements, his lawyers said he saw a green laser on her gun; Dean did not testify to that.
Dean and his partner believed the home in the 1200 block of East Allen Avenue was burglarized. Dean said on the stand Monday the home looked ransacked and objects were strewn around the kitchen and living room. Dean and his partner testified they did not identify themselves in case a burglar was inside and said police policies did not require they announce their presence at an “open structure” call.
Tarrant County prosecutor Dale Smith lambasted Dean on the stand about whether his actions were “good police work.” Dean conceded “there’s probably things I could have done better” but said he thought he did a “fine job.”
Jefferson’s nephew, Zion Carr, told a child forensic interviewer the morning of the shooting that Jefferson pointed a gun toward the window. But on the stand last week, the now-11-year-old said she kept the gun at her side. Zion also told the interviewer he heard someone yell outside the window and thought he saw a police badge. But on the stand, Zion said he didn’t hear or see anything outside. Defense lawyers later implied to the judge they believe Zion was coached to give a different account of the shooting.
Dean, while being questioned Monday by the prosecution, said Jefferson was bent over and stood upright as he drew his gun. He said her gun was near her chest.
Dean’s killing of Jefferson sparked nationwide outrage and became a watershed moment previewing 2020′s widespread social justice protests. Although some of the 12 jurors and two alternates are people of color, none are Black.
Dean faces up to life in prison if convicted of murder. Before Dean’s arrest, no Tarrant County officer had ever faced a murder charge, the district attorney’s office said at the time.
Jefferson has been described by family as a doting aunt and aspiring doctor who grew up in Dallas’ Oak Cliff area and graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana. She’d moved into the East Allen Avenue home to care for her ailing mother and Zion, whose mother was also in poor health.
