In a landmark settlement, a Texas city has agreed to pay $3.5 million to a young boy who witnessed the tragic shooting of his aunt by a police officer four years ago.
The settlement, approved by the Fort Worth City Council, will provide financial support for Zion Carr, who was just 8 years old when his aunt, Atatiana Jefferson, was fatally shot through the window of her home.
The incident occurred in October 2019 when a neighbor called the non-emergency police line to report that Jefferson's front door was open.
Zion and Jefferson had been playing video games and left the door open to air out the house after Zion burned some hamburgers.
When two police officers arrived at the scene, they failed to identify themselves as police officers. Instead, they crept into the backyard, believing a burglary might be in progress.
Suddenly, officer Aaron Dean fired a single shot through the window, striking Jefferson inside the home.
Zion, who was present during the shooting, testified that his aunt retrieved her gun because she believed an intruder was in the backyard. Dean, however, claimed that he saw Jefferson's weapon before firing. Prosecutors argued that the evidence contradicted Dean's claim.
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