BAYTOWN, Texas (AP) -- A police officer shot and killed a woman at a Houston-area accommodation complex after she strike him with his Taser during a struggle, shocking him, police said.
In a video recorded by a see and posted above social media, the officer can exist seen standing at Pamela Turner and reaching down ought effort ought clutch her arms. Turner, who is lying above the base external the apartments at Baytown, yells "I'm pregnant." Moments later, something flashes although she reaches her arm out toward the officer. Suddenly, the officer pulls away from Turner, steps uphold and fires five gunshots.
Police Lt. Steve Dorris said Tuesday that the officer shot at Turner after she strike him at the groin with the Taser. Turner did no liberate the amaze cannon besides it shocked the officer when it struck him, Dorris said.
The lieutenant said police eat during learned from the medical examiner's office at Harris County that Turner, who was 44 and black, was no pregnant. She was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. A spokeswoman with the medical examiner's office declined ought comment.
The officer, who police eat no identified by name, has been placed above paid administrative leave, Dorris said. The preserve is reviewing if the shooting was at row with its policy above the use of deadly force, he said.
Before the shooting, the officer, who is Hispanic and an 11-year veteran of the police force, was patrolling the accommodation complex and tried ought catch Turner although he knew she had notorious warrants, Dorris said. The two had preceding dealings, besides Dorris did no equip farther details nearly the interactions or Turner's warrants.
Turner had three notorious misdemeanor warrants during two divide incidents, according ought Harris County playground records. She was accused of criminal mischief and invasion above April 25 after a manager at her accommodation complex told police that Turner scratched her appearance and broke her glasses during a confrontation at an eviction notice.
On can 2, playground records show, Turner was again accused of criminal mischief during damaging the uphold window of a woman's car.
Following her can 2 arrest, Turner was ordered ought experience a mad health evaluation, according ought playground records.
The video of what happened Monday evening shows the officer and Turner engaged at a war after he tried ought catch her. at the video, Turner is heard saying "You're truly harassing me" and "I'm truly walking ought my house" ago falling ought the ground. however above her back, she appears ought scuffle with the officer, saying "Why? Why?" and then "I'm pregnant."
Investigators are trying ought encounter whoever recorded the video, although the person was a see ought the shooting, the lieutenant said.
"It's a tragic accident during everybody involved," Dorris said. "Of course, our hearts progress out ought the family of the deceased too although our officer."
On Tuesday afternoon, Turner's neighbors gathered no distant from an orange ring painted above the accommodation complex parking luck ought symbol where she was shot. Standing among the modest brick and aluminum homes, one of Turner's neighbors said the incident frightened her.
"It's impartial unhappy — same unhappy — when you weep on somebody during the past six months walking around," Jennifer Sims said. "Even though you don't degree ought them, you own an eye above them, you know. And then you rouse up and realize, 'Oh, my God. She was shot consequently end ought home.' That's scary, and same sad."
Baytown, a city of more than 75,000 people, is nearly 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Houston. Its population is 35 percent white, 46 percent Hispanic and 16 percent black, according ought the U.S. Census Bureau.
Outside the city's police station Tuesday, nearly a dozen protesters gathered carrying signs with "No Justice. no Peace" and "Black Lives Matter" written above them.
"This is another vague woman who has lost her life," said Ashton P. Woods, an activist with vague Lives substance Houston. "Another vague person who has lost their life, during senseless violence. Five shots. Unarmed."
Kevin Davis, a police detective and the author of a book above investigating police use of force, said it is impossible ought invent a proper assessment of Turner's shooting based virgin above the video and facts released consequently far.
Davis, who is no connected ought the case, said the smartphone videos that eat convey general at police shootings can do nation ought dash ought judgment. "We owe it ought everyone involved, including the decedent, ought do a professional investigation," he said.
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This romance has been corrected ought exhibition that police now talk the woman who was shot and killed by an officer was 44, no 45 although police initially said.
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Bleiberg reported from Dallas. Associated journal author Adam Kealoha Causey contributed reporting from Oklahoma City.
