Atatiana Jefferson is a Black woman from Fort Worth, Texas who was shot and killed in her bedroom as she played with her 8-year old nephew by a white police officer investigating a potential break in. The officer has since been put on leave. (Image courtesy of Atatiana Jefferson’s Facebook)
Atatiana Jefferson, who was fatally shot in her home by a Fort Worth, Texas police officer over a week ago, while playing a video game with her 8-year-old nephew, has yet to be laid to rest.
The original funeral was scheduled to happen on Saturday, October 19th but was cancelled due to a family dispute.
Jefferson’s father, Marquis A. Jefferson, was granted a temporary restraining order by a local court halting the funeral services from happening. Her father argued that he was not a part of the planning process for his daughter’s funeral and wanted to be included, according to NBC News.
READ MORE: Funeral plans announced for Atatiana Jefferson and will be open to the public
The funeral was set to take place at Bishop TD Jakes’ church, The Potter’s House of Dallas, where Jakes was going to officiate the service. News of the cancellation came from the Potters House on Saturday morning.
In addition to allegedly being left out of the funeral arrangements, Marquis Jefferson also said he can afford the funeral costs to pay for his daughter’s funeral, but supported jumped at the chance to set up a GoFundMe account seeking monetary donations for Atatiana’s funeral expenses.
After Atatiana’s death, her mother, Yolanda Carr, hired lawyer S. Lee Merritt, to fight in a legal battle for what happened to her daughter.
READ MORE: Lee Merritt critiques DA in charge of Atatiana Jefferson case
According to NBC News, Merritt tweeted Saturday that Carr had “hired me to seek justice for her daughter.”
Merritt also spoke with The Dallas Morning News and stated former Dallas Mavericks player Harrison Barnes, his wife, Brittany Barnes, and Philadelphia Eagles player Malik Jackson would cover the costs for the funeral.
Jefferson’s family is due back in court on Monday and the funeral should be held shortly after that Merritt said.
“She has been very ill & unable to make media appearances. We worked hard all week to get her prepared to attend her daughter’s funeral. This has been extremely hard on her.”
