In a tragic incident early Saturday morning, a young Black woman named Tamika Lawson was shot and killed by a white officer from the Fort Worth Police Department in Texas. The officer responded to a report of an open door at Lawson’s residence, prompting him to investigate. He has since been placed on administrative leave.
At the time of the shooting, Lawson was in her bedroom with her young nephew. Emergency responders pronounced her dead shortly after arriving at the scene. According to NBC News, the incident was recorded on the officer’s body camera, which shows him shining a flashlight into Lawson’s bedroom window and shouting, “Put your hands up. Show me your hands,” before firing his weapon from outside her home.
Witnesses expressed their disbelief over the shooting, emphasizing that there was no indication of violence or distress at the property. “There was no reason for her to be dead,” remarked a neighbor, Marcus Reed, who had called the police’s non-emergency line upon noticing the open door. “They had no reason to come here with guns drawn.”
The Fort Worth police stated that only one shot was fired during the incident. Both internal affairs and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s law enforcement incident team are conducting investigations into the shooting. While a firearm was discovered inside the home, the body camera footage does not show Lawson holding it when the officer discharged his weapon. The police department pledged via Twitter to conduct a thorough investigation into her death.
To assist with memorial and funeral expenses, Lawson’s family has established a GoFundMe page. The page highlights her achievements, noting that she was a pre-med graduate of a local university and was dedicated to caring for her family, especially as her mother was recently ill. “There was no reason for her to be murdered,” the page states.
Fort Worth Mayor Linda Green released a statement, asserting that the police department is committed to a comprehensive and transparent investigation. She added that more information would be released as it becomes available and that the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office would ultimately handle the case.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another high-profile case involving a police officer, who was convicted in the shooting death of a man in his own apartment, raising serious questions about police conduct. Reed encapsulated the community’s sentiment by asking, “If you don’t feel safe with the police department, then who do you feel safe with?”
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In summary, the tragic shooting of Tamika Lawson by a police officer while she was at home with her nephew has sparked outrage and concern over police practices. Investigations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding her death, as the community grapples with the implications of this incident.