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Atatiana Jefferson remembered 5 years after death
The Fort Worth community came together for the "Tay Day" Parade on Saturday in honor of Atatiana Jefferson. 5 years ago, Jefferson was shot and killed by former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean while babysitting her nephew.
FORT WORTH, Texas - Saturday marks five years since Atatiana Jefferson was shot and killed by former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean.
The community joined together to honor Jefferson's life and legacy with their annual "Tay Day" parade.
Zion Carr, Jefferson's nephew, got to ride in a float during the parade.
"It’s really special to me. I like how everyone came out to support," Carr said.
The 28-year-old Jefferson was babysitting Carr at her mother's home on the night she was shot and killed in 2019.
Dean shot Jefferson through her window after a neighbor called a non-emergency line.
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Aaron Dean Murder Trial: Zion Carr, Atatiana Jefferson's nephew testifies
Jefferson was babysitting Carr in Oct. 2019 on the night of the shooting. Carr testified that his aunt did not point her gun prior to being shot by Officer Dean.
Carr rode in the Fort Worth Police float along with Captain Brent Halford, the officer who took him out of the house after his aunt was shot.
Saturday was the first time the two were reunited since that night.
"It’s a nice experience because somedays I feel like I wonder who was the person who took me out of the house the day it happened. So it’s nice to meet the police," said Carr.
Captain Halford let Carr make a sign for the float in honor of his aunt and he promised to be there for him in the future.
"I know we kind of let you down before, but we’re not going to do it again. I’d like to pick you back up and help you out," Halford said.
The parade is just one part of the annual remembrance weekend.
The parade route ended at the Atatiana Carr-Jefferson Community Center where the Tay Day Community Festival began.
"It was an honor to put him on the parade float with us and have him work with us. Hopefully we can keep the connection going and help him out," said Halford.
The weekend included a community karaoke night that took place on Friday and a project gala Sunday night.
Aaron Dean Case
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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Aaron Dean trial: Former Fort Worth police officer sentenced to 11+ years in prison
Former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean was sentenced to 11 years, 10 months and 12 days in prison for the 2019 manslaughter of Atatiana Jefferson.
Aaron Dean was convicted of manslaughter in 2022 and was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison.
His legal team appealed the conviction to the United States Supreme Court, which declined to review the case on Monday.
Dean was originally charged with murder and his legal team has argued that prosecutors should not have been allowed to consider the lesser charge of manslaughter.
"Aaron Dean and his defense team are very disappointed that the Supreme Court chose to not hear Aaron’s important issue of constitutional law," said his lawyers in a statement to FOX 4. "Aaron was acquitted of the murder charge brought against him by a grand jury. The State should not have been allowed a second bite at the apple when the jury was instructed that they could convict Aaron of manslaughter, a charge not contained in his indictment."
Aaron Dean
The Supreme Court did not specify why it declined to hear Dean's appeal.
Atatiana Jefferson Shooting
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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Aaron Dean Trial: Fmr. Fort Worth police officer takes stand, faces intense cross-examination from prosecutors
Prosecutors worked to break down his version of events. He admitted some of his decisions were "bad police work." He also admitted he did not announce he saw a gun before he fired and failed to tell his partner he saw a gun when they went into the home.
The case made national news after the shooting on Oct. 12, 2019.
A neighbor made a non-emergency call to police because a door was open with lights on.
Officer Dean arrived, walked into the backyard and saw Jefferson in a window with her gun in her hand. Dean yelled, "put your hands up! Let me see your hands!" before immediately firing a single shot, killing Jefferson.
Dean's team argued that the home looked like a crime had been committed.
It later came out that Jefferson and her nephew had opened the door because they had burned hamburgers.
Jefferson's nephew, Zion Carr, testified that she had a gun in her hand because she believed Dean was an intruder.
The shooting led to protests against the Fort Worth Police Department.
In 2023, Fort Worth's City Council approved a settlement to provide $3.5 million to Carr.