Bakutis v. Dean

Atatiana Jefferson was tragically shot and killed by a Fort Worth Police Officer as she stood in the window of her own home, looking out to determine the source of the noise outside. The MacArthur Justice Center is representing the Estate of Atatiana Jefferson on appeal, arguing that Officer Dean violated her Fourth Amendment rights by unlawfully searching her home and using excessive force. The MacArthur Justice Center is fighting to ensure that law enforcement officers like the one in Ms. Jefferson’s case do not abuse their power.

In the early hours of October 12, 2019, Atatiana Jefferson was in her home in Fort Worth playing video games with her nephew. She left her front door open to let in a cool breeze.

After a neighbor notified the police about the open door, two officers went to Ms. Jefferson’s home. They did not announce themselves or give Ms. Jefferson any indication that they were there. Although they did not have a warrant and did not notice any signs of a disturbance, Defendant Officer Aaron Dean looked through Ms. Jefferson’s screen windows and entered through a gate into her side yard.

Hearing noise outside, Ms. Jefferson approached her window. Upon seeing Ms. Jefferson’s figure behind the glass, Officer Dean immediately drew his weapon. Then, without giving Ms. Jefferson time to respond to a command and put her hands in the air, he shot her through the window. Ms. Jefferson bled to death on the floor of her home as her nephew watched.

Ms. Jefferson’s estate filed a lawsuit alleging that Officer Dean violated her Fourth Amendment rights by unlawfully searching her home and using excessive force. When Officer Dean moved to dismiss on qualified immunity grounds, the district court denied the motion.

The MacArthur Justice Center, alongside co-counsel McEldrew Purtell, is representing Ms. Jefferson’s estate in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, to defend the district court’s decision to deny qualified immunity to Dean.

UPDATE

On February 25, 2025, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling that Officer Dean was not entitled to qualified immunity for his use of deadly force against Ms. Jefferson. The Fifth Circuit held that Officer Dean was entitled to qualified immunity for searching Ms. Jefferson’s home.