City of Fort Worth has reached a proposed $11.25 million settlement with the estate of Atatiana Jefferson, nearly seven years after a Fort Worth police officer fatally shot Jefferson inside her home.
The proposed agreement, announced on August 11, still requires approval from the Fort Worth City Council, which is scheduled to consider the settlement on August 25. If approved by the council, the agreement will also require approval from a probate court before it becomes final.
Under the agreement, Jefferson’s two nephews, who were minors at the time of the shooting, would receive the largest portions of the settlement, with the money placed in trusts until they turn 18. Other funds would be distributed among Jefferson’s surviving family members.
The city previously approved $3.5 million for Jefferson’s nephew, Zion Carr, who was in the home when she was killed.
“Atatiana Jefferson’s family and loved ones have suffered a profound and unimaginable loss,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said, per CBS News. “While no settlement can undo the devastating impact of this tragedy, we hope this agreement offers a meaningful measure of closure and allows everyone to move forward.”
Jefferson Was Fatally Shot by Fort Worth Officer
Jefferson, 28, was babysitting her 8-year-old nephew at her mother’s Fort Worth home on October 12, 2019, when police were called to the residence for a welfare check after a neighbor reported that the front door appeared to be open.
Former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean responded to the call and walked around the house to the backyard. After shining a flashlight toward a bedroom window and identifying himself, Dean fired one shot through the window.
The bullet struck Jefferson, who was inside the bedroom with her nephew. She died at the scene.
Dean later testified that he believed he was confronting a burglar and said he fired after seeing what he believed was a gun pointed toward him. Jefferson’s nephew testified that she had retrieved her firearm after hearing someone outside.
Dean was convicted of manslaughter in 2022 and sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison. He remains incarcerated.
The proposed settlement would resolve civil claims stemming from Jefferson’s death.
Family Says Settlement Brings Legal Chapter to a Close
Ashley Carr, Jefferson’s sister, said the settlement marks the end of a legal chapter for the family, while emphasizing that no legal outcome can undo the loss.
“This case represents a rare instance in which a family has received accountability both criminally and civilly following the killing of their loved one by a police officer,” Carr said in a statement on behalf of the family, WFAA reported.
She said the family remains grateful for the support it has received but added that “neither a conviction nor a financial settlement can restore what was taken from our family.”
“Nothing can bring Atatiana home,” Carr said.
The family said it intends to continue honoring Jefferson’s life through The Atatiana Project, which grew out of the community response to her death and focuses on opportunities and programs for young people.
Carr said the settlement “closes a legal chapter, but it does not close Atatiana’s story.”
Attorneys Point To Broader Legacy
John J. Coyle, lead counsel for Jefferson’s estate, said the settlement provides an important measure of accountability but cannot erase the family’s loss.
He also highlighted The Atatiana Project as part of Jefferson’s continuing legacy, saying the initiative has sought to turn grief into programs designed to empower young people and strengthen communities.
Co-counsel S. Lee Merritt said Jefferson’s death had an impact beyond her immediate family.
“This resolution belongs to the neighbors, organizers, and advocates who stood with the Jeffersons for years and made clear that her life mattered,” Merritt said, per WFAA.
District 8 Council Member Chris Nettles, who represents the area where the shooting occurred, said the proposed agreement could help the community continue efforts toward healing.
“For nearly seven years, I’ve seen the pain, resilience and determination of a community that has never stopped calling for understanding and a better path forward,” Nettles said, WFAA reported.
The Fort Worth City Council is expected to vote on the proposed $11.25 million settlement on August 25. The agreement would not become final unless it receives the required approval from the probate court.
