Pamela Turner, a 44-year-old grandmother of three who suffered from Schizophrenia, is the latest person to be killed in an officer-involved shooting. Turner was shot five times by an unnamed member of the Baytown Police Department in Texas.
Turner was confronted by a patrolling officer when he recognized Turner from prior dealings, according to Click 2 Houston. She reportedly had three outstanding warrants for criminal mischief and assault resulting in bodily injury. Turner, who claimed she was pregnant and that the police were harassing her before the shooting took place, lived in the apartment complex she was outside of.
The police, however, say the officer open-fired after Turner grabbed his taser and used it against him.
“During the course of the attempted arrest, the female began struggling with the officer, which forced the officer to deploy his Taser,” said Baytown Lt. Steve Dorris in a statement. “That deployment was not effective, and the female was able to get the officer’s Taser away from him. (She) actually tased the officer, which forced the officer to draw his duty weapon and fire multiple rounds at the suspect.
“The female has been pronounced deceased at the scene. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is on scene and assisting in the investigation, as is normal in these types of incidents. Any future updates will be provided via an official press release later today, as the investigation unfolds.”
The incident — which occurred on Monday, May 13 — was captured on social media and began making the rounds.
You can see the shocking video below.
WARNING: Video contains graphic and disturbing content.
The Baytown Police department has not yet said whether Turner was armed during the incident or whether the unnamed officer had his body camera turned on at the time of the shooting. The officer, who is an 11-year veteran, has been placed on administrative leave.
