FORT WORTH, Texas — Four years after the police shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson, on her birthday, city leaders voted to issue a huge civil lawsuit payment to Jefferson's nephew, Zion Carr.
Convicted former Fort Worth Police officer Aaron Dean shot and killed Atatiana Jefferson through a window. It happened as Atatiana was babysitting Zion, so he witnessed the shooting. The two had been playing video games and, after burning something on the stove, his aunt opened the front door to air out the house.
Since witnessing his aunt's tragic shooting death, Zion has lost his grandmother, Yolanda Carr, followed by his mother, Amber Carr, to health illnesses.
On Oct. 12, 2019, Jefferson's neighbor, James Smith, called police for a welfare check after noticing her front door left open overnight.
Smith addressed the city council before their vote on Nov. 28, 2023. He wore a button with Atatiana's photo on it to City Hall Tuesday morning.
"This button is a reflection of a vision in my mind that will probably never leave. You can't see it, but that's why I wear the button. So, she can be seen and remembered in the city of Fort Worth," Smith said. "As I told the council, I'm not here primarily because of me. I'm here because Yolanda Carr can't be here. Tatiana's not here. Amber is not here."
The base pay for the lawsuit settlement is $3.5 million. Right away, Zion will receive a lump sum and money for living expenses, a college savings plan, and later get another lump sum and annuity payments until he turns 40. City leaders and their attorneys discussed the terms and agreement of the settlement with Zion's family.
Although Tuesday's vote was unanimous, and several councilmembers voiced their support for the settlement and the terms, Fort Worth City Councilman Chris Nettles has been the most vocal city leader about Fort Worth never forgetting Jefferson's name.
Nettles shared how he learned in conversations with Jefferson's family that they wanted any type of settlement to purposefully spread out so Zion would have sustainability in years to come.
"And they believed that to expand it as far as possible, to make sure that his entire life is taken care of," Nettles said.
The vote on the lawsuit settlement payment occurred on Jefferson's 33rd birthday. Mayor Mattie Parker explained that it's pure coincidence, especially since voting on any type of agreement had to come after litigation and at the advice of legal counsel.
The city council members repeatedly made it clear that no amount of money is justice for what happened to Atatiana Jefferson, who's bigger than life mural faces downtown Fort Worth.
"I think that mural should really serve as a reminder for all of us and continue to talk about Atatiana," said Mayor Mattie Parker.
There are two separate lawsuits consolidated into one case on behalf of Jefferson's family. One lawsuit is by the estate of Jefferson, and the other lawsuit was filed by the late mother of Zion Carr.