The family of Pamela Turner, a Black woman killed by a Baytown, Texas police officer in 2019, filed a civil rights lawsuit late last month.
As the second anniversary of her killing approaches, Turner’s family along with civil rights attorney Ben Crump hope to find justice.
On May 23, 2019, officer Juan Pedro Delacruz fatally shot Turner in the parking lot of her apartment complex where she worked as a security guard. Turner’s family said she suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Delacruz was patrolling the area near Turner’s apartment and had intended on arresting her for several outstanding warrants when a scuffle ensued. The officer discharged a single-shot Taser. Police officials say that Turner attempted to use the Taser on Delacruz who then fired his gun at least five times in close range, hitting Turner in the face, chest, and abdomen while she was on the ground.
Video of the shooting, taken by a witness, circulated social media. In it, Turner can reportedly be heard asking the officer why he is harassing her and that she was on her way home. Turner yells “I’m pregnant” before Delacruz shoots her. Police say that statement was false. Turner was 44 years old and a mother of two.
“Ofc. Juan Delacruz must be held accountable for brutally killing unarmed Pamela Turner!” Crump tweeted Thursday (May 13), announcing a rally to be held that day in Baytown.
Delacruz was indicted by a grand jury on a first-degree felony charge and was released last September after posting $25,000 bond.
On April 8 of this year, Turner’s family filed a lawsuit against Delacruz and the apartment management company where Turner was killed. The lawsuit alleges that both the officer and complex repeatedly harassed Turner and accuses Delacruz of using excessive force which led to her wrongful death.
The criminal case against Delacruz resumes on May 25.
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