Aaron Dean Warrant: Atatiana Jefferson 'Yelled Out In Pain'

FORT WORTH, TX — Former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean, who is accused of fatally shooting a woman in her own home, was arrested at his attorney's office Monday evening, just hours after resigning from the force.

Dean, 35, is charged with murder in the fatal Saturday shooting that left 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson dead. According to an arrest warrant released by police Tuesday, Jefferson yelled out in pain after being shot and fell to the ground.

At the time of the shooting, Jefferson was playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew. So far, Dean has not provided a statement giving an account of the shooting.

At a press conference Tuesday, Fort Worth Interim Police Chief Ed Kraus said he was deeply sorry for what had occurred.

"I realize that no action we take can replace the loss suffered here," Kraus said.

Dean and another officer were dispatched to Jefferson's Fort Worth home at 2:23 a.m. Saturday for an "open structure" call. According to the warrant, the neighbor who made the call said the front door to the home was open, both cars were in the driveway and the neighbors are usually home but never have the front door open.

Cops looked inside through the glass storm doors but didn't see anyone in the front room, the warrant said. Dean checked the cars with his flashlight and then went into the backyard, according to the warrant. At that point none of the officers had announced their presence, the warrant said.

"Put your hands up, show me your hands," Dean said after shining his flashlight into a window and seeing someone inside, the warrant said. Without saying he was a police officer, Dean fired his gun once through the window, according to the warrant.

Dean's body camera was on at the time but because of the reflection from the flashlight, it does not clearly show what occurred at that point.

Jefferson died at the scene.

Her nephew told a social worker Jefferson had taken her handgun from her purse after hearing noises. According to the warrant, she was pointing it toward the window when she was shot and killed.

The other officer who had responded to the scene said she could only see Jefferson's face at the time of the shooting because Dean was standing in front of her, the warrant said.