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Atatiana Jefferson, Killed by Police Officer in Her Own Home

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Nobody looked at this video and said there’s any doubt that this officer acted inappropriately,” Forth Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus noted. “I was going to fire [Dean] even before he quit. We had already taken his badge and weapon. There were violations in his use of force, and he didn’t follow de-escalation protocols. His conduct was unprofessional. There are times for officers to act as warriors and defenders, and there are times for them to act as public servants and humble servants.”

Published

6 years ago

October 15, 2019

Oakland Post

Atatiana Jefferson, a 2014 Xavier University biology graduate, worked in the pharmaceutical industry and was contemplating becoming a doctor.

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Atatiana Jefferson, a 2014 Xavier University biology graduate who worked in the pharmaceutical industry and was contemplating becoming a doctor, lived a life of purpose that mattered to all of those who gathered for a vigil on Sunday, Oct. 13, outside of her single-story, purple-painted home in Fort Worth.

Atatiana also mattered to her eight-year old nephew, who is a witness to this tragedy.

But she didn’t seem to matter at all to 34-year old Fort Worth, Texas Police Officer Aaron Dean.

Dean and his unidentified partner were asked to check on the well-being of the occupants in her home – Atatiana and her young nephew.

It was very late at night and James Smith, a concerned neighbor, noticed that her door had been left ajar. Smith dialed 311, a service established specifically for non-emergencies, to ask police to simply check on the home.

Dean and his partner arrived. Upon hearing the commotion outside of her home, Atatiana approached her window to see what was happening. Without identifying himself as a police officer, Dean shouted a command, “Let me see your hands!” and immediately opened fire, shooting through the window and killing Atatiana.

Atatiana Jefferson didn’t matter to Officer Aaron Dean, and his indifference meant that she would become the sixth African American to die at the hands of police gunfire in 2019.

It’s a statistic that activists and residents are very much aware of, one that has the city of Fort Worth on edge.

After Dean’s resignation on Sunday, and his arrest on murder charges a day later, residents are demanding action from the City’s leadership.

“Every day you are worried about who might be the next victim,” Stephon Little, one of the many mourners to gather at Jefferson’s home, told reporters.

“You’re worried about what could happen if you’re pulled over, or in other circumstances. Now, you worry about sitting inside your house eating ice cream, sitting inside your house playing video games with a child,” Little stated.

Eating ice cream was a clear reference to Botham Jean, a Dallas resident killed by a police officer. Jean was shot and killed while sitting inside his home eating ice cream and watching television.

Only days before Atatiana’s killing, a jury convicted former Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger for Botham Jean’s murder, returning the verdict in less than 24 hours. Guyger received a controversial 10-year sentence in prison for her crime.

“I cannot make sense of why she had to lose her life,” Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus stated during a news conference announcing Dean’s arrest.

Dean was released on $200,000 bond and his police union vowed to financially support his defense, which is certain to highlight that a gun was later found in Atatiana’s home.

Lee Merritt, the lawyer representing Atatiana’s family, said that shouldn’t matter.

Merritt was backed in his words by Kraus and Fort Worth Mayor, Betsy Price.

Texas’ “castle doctrine” law allows someone to use deadly force in their homes if there’s a threat, which means even if Jefferson carried her weapon to the window in which she was shot, she was within her rights legally.

“The gun is irrelevant,” Mayor Price told reporters.

“Atatiana was in her own home caring for her 8-year-old nephew. She was the victim,” Price stated.

Kraus stated that he would also refer the case to the FBI so the agency could review federal civil rights charges.

“This is a pivotal moment in our city, and we will have a top-to-bottom review of the police department,” Price said.

“Nobody looked at this video and said there’s any doubt that this officer acted inappropriately,” Forth Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus noted. “I was going to fire [Dean] even before he quit. We had already taken his badge and weapon. There were violations in his use of force, and he didn’t follow de-escalation protocols. His conduct was unprofessional. There are times for officers to act as warriors and defenders, and there are times for them to act as public servants and humble servants.”

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Tiguan’s AI Touchscreen & Gear Shift: VW Just Changed the Game! #2

Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

https://youtube.com/watch?v=0xUKM6U2Lpc&autoplay=0&cc_lang_pref=en&cc_load_policy=0&color=0&controls=1&fs=1&h1=en&loop=0&rel=0

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IN MEMORIAM: Legendary Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dies at 82

Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Sly and the Family Stone play the Opera House in Bournemouth. Mojo review. Photo by Simon Fernandez.

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire

Sylvester “Sly” Stewart—known to the world as Sly Stone, frontman of the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone—has died at the age of 82.

His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by loved ones, after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health complications.

Born March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Stone moved with his family to Vallejo, California, as a child. He began recording gospel music at age 8 with his siblings in a group called the Stewart Four. By his teenage years, he had mastered multiple instruments and was already pioneering racial integration in music—an ethos that would define his career.

In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie merged their bands to form Sly and the Family Stone, complete with a revolutionary interracial, mixed-gender lineup.

The band quickly became a commercial and cultural force with hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—all penned by Stone himself.

Their album “Stand!” (1969) and live performances—most notably at Woodstock—cemented their reputation, blending soul, funk, rock, gospel, and psychedelia to reflect the optimism and turmoil of their era.

As the 1970s progressed, Stone confronted personal demons. His desire to use music as a response to war, racism, and societal change culminated in the intense album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971). But drug dependency began to undermine both his health and professional life, leading to erratic behavior and band decline through the early 1980s.

Withdrawn from the public eye for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stone staged occasional comebacks. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2017, and captured public attention following the 2023 release of his memoir “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—published under Questlove’s imprint. He also completed a biographical screenplay and was featured in Questlove’s documentary “Sly Lives!” earlier this year.

His influence endured across generations. Critics and historians repeatedly credit him with perfecting funk and creating a “progressive soul,” shaping a path for racial integration both onstage and in the broader culture.

“Rest in beats Sly Stone,” legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D posted on social media with an illustrative drawing of the artist. “We should thank Questlove of the Roots for keeping his fire blazing in this century.”

Emmy-winning entertainment publicist Danny Deraney also paid homage. “Rest easy Sly Stone,” Deraney posted. “You changed music (and me) forever. The time he won over Ed Sullivan’s audience in 1968. Simply magical. Freelance music publicist and Sirius XM host Eric Alper also offered a tribute.

“The funk pioneer who made the world dance, think, and get higher,” Alper wrote of Sly Stone. “His music changed everything—and it still does.”

Sly Stone is survived by three children.

Oakland Post

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PRESS ROOM: Clyburn on 10th Anniversary of Mother Emanuel AME Church Shooting in Charleston

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

By Congressman James E. Clyburn

WATCH HERE

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10^th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

“Over 6 years ago, the House first passed my Enhanced Background Checks Act to close the Charleston Loophole that allowed a white supremacist to obtain the gun he used to murder nine worshipers at Emanuel AME Church on June 17, 2015.

“I’ll never stop fighting to pass this law.”