This weekend marks the 5-year anniversary of Atatiana Jefferson’s death. Now, while the community prepares for a three-day celebration of Jefferson’s life, we hear from the young man who watched the tragedy unfold all those years ago. NBC 5’s Larry Collins discovers how he’s grown up and healed.
This weekend marks the 5th anniversary of Atatiana Jefferson's death.
On Oct. 12, 2019, Jefferson was shot and killed in her mother’s Fort Worth home by now-former police officer Aaron Dean.
Dean was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.
Jefferson was playing video games with her nephew, Zion Carr before Dean responded to the home because of a call for a welfare check.
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The community has planned a three-day celebration of Jefferson’s life including a parade Saturday and a gala Sunday.
Carr was only 8-years-old when he watched the tragedy unfold five years ago. At 13, he’s grown up and healed quite a bit.
“I think I changed a lot,” Carr said. "Sometimes I’ll think of her and sometimes it will just make me sad.”
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Carr said he is surrounded by family and friends who make the hard times easier.
“I know that somebody always has my back,” he said.
He still remembers his “Aunt Tay” fondly.
“Her funniness. That’s what carried me to be me,” he said. “Because she’s worth more than anything.”
And he plans to keep her legacy alive in the future when he has his own family.
“If I have a daughter, name her Atatiana or ‘Tay,’” Carr said. “I would tell her that it’s my very lovely aunt. And you would’ve loved her too. And once she gets older, I will tell her what happened to her.”
