Update (May 15, 2019): The identity of the Texas woman fatally shot by a police officer has been revealed as that of Pamela Turner.
The unarmed Black woman was killed after a stand-off with an officer from the Baytown Police Department Monday night. Following her murder, The Associated Press reports individuals from Black Lives Matter Houston gathered outside the police station to protest the death of another unarmed Black person at the hands of law enforcement.
The family of Pamela Turner, the mother of 2 and grandmother of 3 fatally shot by a police officer in Baytown, Texas, in an incident recorded in an horrific video, has released these photos of her: https://t.co/uBDYninqNr
pic.twitter.com/OknXt583SJ— Tom Cleary (@tomwcleary) May 15, 2019
According to Barrett Brown, founder of The Pursuance Project, Baytown officer Juan Manuel Delacruz is the individual who murdered the woman.
The name of the #Baytown cop who killed a mentally ill woman last night is Juan Manuel Delacruz. Other info will be provided to any journalist who wants it. Join me now as I call his cell for an exclusive interview. https://t.co/mDN38vokw9
— Barrett Brown (@BarrettBrown_) May 15, 2019
In a video posted on Twitter Tuesday evening, Brown appears to show followers his process behind uncovering Delaruz’s identity, including phoning the officer himself. Brown’s call went straight to voicemail. However, the journalist included a photo of the accused deputy posing on a horse alongside other colleagues doing the same.
Here he is, on the left: pic.twitter.com/BAsgEw7fk2
— Barrett Brown (@BarrettBrown_) May 15, 2019
Brown also revealed that Delacruz coincidentally lives in the same apartment complex as the victim, but wouldn’t reveal his exact address.
No, I released his name and revealed that he lives in the apartment where this occurred, the address of which was already public. If I wanted to dox him, he'd be doxed; I have his number, full address, info on his ranch outside Huntsville, and info on his other illicit conduct. https://t.co/j0VdQLNSdc
— Barrett Brown (@BarrettBrown_) May 15, 2019
Heavy revealed more information about the victim, reporting that the 44-year-old was a mother of two and grandmother of three. Turner lived with from schizophrenia and according to her sister, regularly took medication in order to treat her condition. Coming to her defense, tenants of The Brixton apartment complex where Turner lived said the victim was “not a bad person.” Residents noted she could be regularly seen smoking outside and walking her dog. “She would walk her dog. that’s all she did was walk her dog and pick up trash. She didn’t mess with anybody. It was just her and her dog,” neighbor Jonathan Little said following Turner’s death. According to a Tuesday update from KHOU, the Baytown Police Department will not reveal the officers identity for “at least three days.”
According to CBS News, officers have also confirmed that Turner was not pregnant at the time of the shooting.
Original: An investigation is underway after a Texas police officer shot and killed a woman he was trying to arrest.
The incident happened overnight at an apartment complex in Baytown, Texas, reports KHOU. The police officer encountered the woman while he was on patrol. The 45-year-old woman had prior encounters with the police and the officer knew she had outstanding warrants so he stopped to arrest her, according to a Facebook statement from the police department.
A struggle ensued and the officer tried to use a Taser to overpower the woman. She allegedly got control of the taser and used it on the officer. He drew his weapon and shot the woman. She was pronounced dead on the scene.
Video taken by witnesses has been circulating on social media. In the video, obtained by KHOU, the pair appears to struggle until a series of pops, presumably the taser, is heard. The officer eventually gets the woman on the ground. As she is sitting on the pavement, with a lit object in her hand, five shots ring out and she slumps over.
The incident is currently under investigation by Baytown Police and The Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
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Baytown Police Lt. Steve Dorris claims the officer has never been involved in a shooting, reports CBS News.
“This is the first shooting the officer has been involved in,” said Dorris. “We'll be out for some time tonight to reconstruct the events and get questions answered.”
Dorris is aware of the social media videos and hopes witnesses will come forward to help investigators with the case.
“It's unfortunate that someone takes a tragic incident like this and starts posting it on social media,” said Dorris. “It's extremely disrespectful for everybody involved. But that's the day and age we live in with social media.”
The officer nor the woman have been publicly identified.
The officer is currently on administrative leave.
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