Family, friends of Atatiana Jefferson react to manslaughter verdict in trial of Aaron Dean
Dozens of family and friends of Atatiana Jefferson sat waiting Thursday just outside the Tarrant County courtroom before a jury returned a manslaughter verdict in the trial of Aaron Dean.
The jury began deliberating about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday on a verdict to decide whether Dean is guilty of a crime after he shot Jefferson through a window at her home on Oct. 12, 2019. Jurors left for the night just before 7 p.m. Wednesday and were sequestered. They resumed deliberations about 8:30 a.m. Thursday and returned the verdict at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The sentencing phase of the trial starts Friday.
Before the manslaughter verdict
Many have been in the courthouse since arguments in the trial began Dec. 5. Lesa Pamplin, an attorney and friend of Jefferson’s family, walked around with a box of doughnuts, handing a sugared pastry to anyone who would take one.
“It’s gonna be a long day,” Pamplin said.
She’s been here from the beginning. Waiting. Patiently. “For a guilty verdict, “ she said.
Asked what’s it been like, Pamplin looked up, took a breath, and said, “It’s been very tense. It has been difficult to have to sit through this.
“And you know, in the famous words of Malcolm X: ‘The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman and the most neglected person in America is the Black woman.’
“And it shows in this particular case that she wasn’t protected. She was neglected, and the actions of two officers — one overzealous officer costing her life.”
It has taken more than three years for the trial to get underway, between limitations from COVID-19 to a change in judges. Activist and community journalist Liz Badgley has been following the case.
When the shooting happened in 2019, Badgley said her reaction was: “Oh, not again.” So, she took up the fight.
“When you see these things, you have to take a stand. So that’s why we’re here,” the 32-year-old said.
“There’s a huge problem with police brutality,” Badgley said. “I was in college at Tarrant County College when this happened, and it was right around the time of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. It was so infuriating.”
Forth Worth City Council Member Chris Nettles said he has been waiting for a long time. Asked how he felt, he said he was impatient.
“We waited three years to get to this point. And so we just want to see what happens,” the pastor and District 8 council member said. Nettles said he doesn’t know what will happen.
“But I think things were laid out, and it’s been fair so far. We’re just hoping for an outcome that supports her life and her family who has had to live with this for the last three years.”
James Smith, the neighbor who called the Fort Worth police non-emergency line because he was concerned about open doors at Jefferson’s house around 2 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2019, was also sitting outside the courtroom waiting with other supporters of the Jefferson family.
“I’m reserving my comment for when we have a verdict,” Smith said.
Smith was sworn in Nov. 29 as a witness in the trial after he was frequently seen outside the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center holding a banner with a picture of Jefferson and the words “We want justice!”
After the manslaughter verdict
Chants of “Black women matter!” could be heard in the hallway outside the courtroom just before the verdict was read. Right after the manslaughter verdict was handed down, someone yelled, “It was murder!”
“If I had killed a cat I’d’ve been locked up for the rest of my life,” family friend and activist Olinka Green told the Star-Telegram. “I probably [would] get the chair. It means white privilege. This is Texas. Everyone expected him to go home. They let a murderer walk free, a white man walk free. This is a token. No one is happy.”
As she got on the elevator, Green yelled “[Expletive] these people!”
Two of Jefferson’s siblings, Ashley Carr and Adarius Carr, sat side by side in the front row as the verdict was read. They left the courtroom holding hands as soon as the jury was dismissed.
Dean sat silently, staring forward. His family hugged him and also left the courthouse without commenting.
Outside the courthouse, a small group supporting justice for Jefferson followed members of Dean’s family as they walked to a parking lot. The group chanted, “No justice, no peace,” and one man shouted, “That’s the real Fort Worth telling y’all how they feel.”
