A Texas councilman is trading shots with the local police union over the shooting of Atatiana Jefferson. 

On October 12, Jefferson, a 26-year-old aspiring medical school student, was shot by Fort Worth officer Aaron Dean while playing video games in her home with her 8-year-old nephew.

Fort Worth officers have shot seven people in 2019 and killed six of them. Dean resigned from the Fort Worth police force before he could be fired and was eventually charged with murder in Jefferson's killing.

McKinney, Texas, Councilman La’Shadion Shemwell decided to take matters into his own hands last Wednesday when he released a statement declaring a "Black State of Emergency."

“Who do I tell my children to call when 911 is killing my people? The State of Texas and its local governments have demonstrated a pattern of practices for discriminatory advised conduct by and through its law-enforcement officers and officials, which deprives black and brown citizens of rights protected for them by the Constitution and laws of United States," Shemwell said.


"Whereas the State of Texas and its local governments have declared war on its black and brown citizens by conspiring to kill, injure, oppress, threaten, intimidate and to willfully deprive citizens of their constitutional rights … McKinney is not exempt from these atrocities,” his declaration added.

The document has garnered extreme opposition from McKinney Mayor George Fuller and the local police union. When Shemwell brought up the declaration at a city council meeting, he was quickly shot down by the mayor who claimed he was inciting the town's Black residents.

Fuller admitted that it was wrong for Black people to be killed in their own homes but quickly pivoted, telling the city council meeting, "what I don’t agree with … [is]when it says ‘the State of Texas and its local governments have declared war on its black and brown citizens.' I happen to be part of a local government, and for me to agree to this proclamation would state that I think this local government had declared war on its black and brown citizens … It's appalling to me to have those statements made and have those indictments of us as an elected body.”

Christopher Kennedy, the president of the McKinney Police Association, issued his own response which lambasted Shemwell and demanded his resignation. 

"Through this divisive rhetoric Councilman Shemwell is discouraging people of color from visiting the State of Texas. This discourse negatively affects the State of Texas, McKinney citizens, and the McKinney Police Department. The statements by Councilman Shemwell were contentious and only sought to create disconnect between the citizens and the police departments that serve them," Kennedy told CBSDFW 21.

He went on to bash Shemwell's record and claim that he was a "public agitator" who was trying "to cause divide between people of color in our community."

Shemwell fired back. 

A statement from his attorney says the McKinney Police Association "once again ignored the pleas of their only black councilperson to protect black and brown people."

"Councilman Shemwell has been a staunch advocate for police reform," the statement read. "And McKinney Police has fought EVERY opportunity for real reform and reconciliation with the black community ever since one of their own brutalized and terrorized black students attending a pool party."

"MPA regurgitates the same old tired lines when law enforcement is called upon to reform their actions. Any time black people express concern for their safety from police misconduct, they are accused of 'racebaiting' and 'agitating' and being 'divisive.'” This is the rhetoric of racists all across the country who proclaim 'all lives matter' while turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the suffering of their black neighbors. Councilman Shemwell’s proclamation was not about MPA. But they took it upon themselves to disparage him nonetheless. Thus, Councilman LaShadion Shemwell’s response to McKinney Police Association’s call for his immediate resignation is simply, 'You first.'" the statement concluded. 

Jefferson's funeral is being postponed until further notice because of a family dispute as Blavity previously reported. 

Aaron-DeanAtatiana-JeffersonLa’Shadion-ShemwellMcKinney-Police-AssociationMcKinney-Texas