$11.25 Million Settlement for Family Awarded

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The Family of Atatiana Jefferson Secures $11.25 Million Settlement following the tragic shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson. Former officer Aaron Dean was found guilty of fatally shooting Atatiana in her Fort Worth, Texas home on October 12, 2019.

RELATED: UPDATE: Sean Grayson, Officer Convicted Of Fatally Shooting Sonya Massey, Reportedly Dies Months Into Serving Prison Sentence

Atatiana Jefferson’s Estate Awarded $11.25 Million in Settlement

The Fort Worth City Council has approved an $11.25 million settlement for Atatiana Jefferson’s estate on Tuesday, August 25, as reported by CBS News.

Former police officer Aaron Dean shot Atatiana during a safety check in 2019, tragically killing her in front of her 8-year-old nephew inside her home. Dean was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder and received an 11-year prison sentence.

Family attorney, John J. Coyle, acknowledged that no amount of money can replace the life of Atatiana.

“Atatiana Jefferson’s death was a profound tragedy that never should have happened. She was a beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, aunt, and friend – a young woman with a bright future whose life was taken far too soon,” said Coyle. “No settlement can restore that life or erase the pain her family and loved ones have endured. Through The Atatiana Project, that collective grief and determination became a force for positive change. The Project has transformed tragedy into opportunity and remembrance into action, creating programs and initiatives designed to empower young people, strengthen communities, and open doors that too often remain closed. That is the legacy we should celebrate.”

Atatiana, who was 28 years old, was a pre-medical student and a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana. She also worked in the pharmaceutical equipment industry while saving for medical school.

The timeline for the family to receive the settlement remains unclear as it still requires approval from probate court.

The Circumstances Surrounding Atatiana Jefferson’s Death

On October 12, 2019, Atatiana Jefferson was killed by police officers in her home. At the time, she was playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew, Zion, when they heard a noise outside. Zion later testified that they had burned hamburgers, prompting them to leave the front door open to clear out the smoke.

After a neighbor reported their open doors to a non-emergency police line, officers arrived at Jefferson’s home at approximately 2:25 a.m. Within just 77 seconds of their arrival, Dean shot Atatiana.

Zion testified that after hearing a noise, his aunt retrieved her gun and approached the window. Body cam footage captured Dean approaching the window and suddenly yelling, “Put your hands up, show me your hands,” before shooting Atatiana through the glass.

Following the incident, Dean claimed he saw Atatiana’s weapon and believed she was a burglar. Prosecutor R. Dale Smith highlighted that Dean never informed his partner about seeing a gun.

“What officer would allow one of his partners to run into a house where they thought a burglary was happening without saying, ‘Hey, there’s a gun in there?’” Smith asked. “He never said there was a gun because he didn’t know.”

Discover The Atatiana Project: Empowering Youth Through Education

In the wake of her tragic death, Atatiana’s family established The Atatiana Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational and career-oriented programs in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) fields, where children from underserved communities are often underrepresented.

“This organization was created in honor of Atatiana Jefferson who, while with her nephew, was murdered in her home by a Fort Worth police officer,” states the website. “The project continues the work Atatiana was doing at the time of her death — exposing youth to STEAM. For underserved communities, this will bridge educational gaps and open career paths.”