BAYTOWN, Texas – A Harris County jury has reached a verdict in the trial for a Baytown police officer in the fatal shooting of Pamela Turner who, family members said, was a mental illness patient.
The officer, Juan Delacruz, was found not guilty on Tuesday. He was charged with one count of first-degree aggravated assault by a public servant for the May 2019 shooting, which was captured on video.
“Pamela Turner’s killing was a tragedy for her family and community. Bringing excessive use of force charges against an officer is always difficult and uncomfortable,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said. “We respect the jury’s verdict.”
Prosecutors said the shooting did not have to happen, as Delacruz was very familiar with the woman who lived in the apartments where he was working an approved extra job as a security guard.
Attorneys for Turner’s family argue that the defendant also knew, or had reason to believe, that Turner had mental health issues.
According to investigators, Delacruz encountered Turner, 44, while on patrol and knew that she had three outstanding warrants out for her arrest.
Body camera footage shows Delacruz approaching Turner and a struggle ensues. Delacruz attempts to taser Turner, but it was ineffective. At that point, Turner gets ahold of the taser, shocking Delacruz in his groin area.
This is an area that, if tased, can cause serious harm, according to the defense.
As seen on video, Delacruz steps back, pulls out his gun and fires five shots, three striking Turner.
Delacruz then begins performing CPR on the woman, but she could not be saved.
Many say this is yet another case drawing national attention to the mistreatment of Black Americans by police officers.
Nationally renowned attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Turner’s family, also represented the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and many more killed by police.
He said Turner’s shooting is not only “unjustified,” but her case has an even bigger significance.
“The reason this trial is so critically important is if the jury finds Delacruz guilty, it will be the first time in American history that a police officer is convicted in the killing of a Black woman,” Crump said at the start of the trial.
After the jury’s verdict was read, however, Crump stood outside the courtroom with Turner’s devastated family members, expressing grief and disappointment.
“This is a setback in the effort for equal justice under the law in America. You have to understand that the police, as documented by the Washington Post from 2015 to 2020, killed 400 Black women while in their custody and not one police officer was convicted of a felony,” Crump said. “When will it end when the police can continue to get away with killing Black women and have no accountability.”
NAACP Houston also spoke out against the verdict, calling it “unjust” and “despicable.”
“Once again, our judicial system has proven to be unfaithful and unreliable when it comes to Black women receiving justice when murdered in cold blood by police officers, said Dr. James Dixon, NAACP Houston president. “It also proves that when it comes to Black women and other minorities, the crime worthy of death by police officers, is to simply be Black and female. That in Harris County, Texas your life does not matter!”
The Baytown Police Department released the following statement:
“With the recent verdict in the criminal trial of Officer De La Cruz, the Baytown Police Department recognizes the community’s interest in this incident. A review of internal processes and policies continues, in addition to pending Internal Affairs inquiries to determine policy compliance or non-compliance.
“While there may be differing opinions on the verdict, this case was tried in a court of law before a jury of Harris County citizens. We ask for respect of this legal process and for citizens to express themselves in a peaceful manner.
“Because this case is still subject to civil litigation, no further information is available at this time.”
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