A police officer has been charged with a penalty assault after fatally shooting a schizophrenic woman more than a year ago in Baytown, Texas.

Texas Police Officer Indicted of Charges After Fatally Shooting Schizophrenic Woman
(Photo : Matt Popovich)
Texas Police Officer Indicted of Charges After Fatally Shooting Schizophrenic Woman

Baytown officer Juan Delacruz was indicted on charges of severe assault after more than a year of fatally shooting Pamela Shantay Turner, a schizophrenic woman in a Houston suburb, Baytown, Texas.

In May 2019, after officer Delacruz initially tried to arrest Turner, 45, due to outstanding warrants. The Baytown officer shot Turner, that had been the cause of her death. Delacruz previously said that Turner reached for Delacruz's Taser during a struggle between the two, and Turner used it.

According to CNN, the Texas Rangers led the shooting investigation, and their findings were turned over to the Harris County District Attorney's Office for review. Then, the DA presented the results to a grand jury that returned with the indictment, as per a news release from the Baytown police.

The police department said, "We have faith and trust in our judicial system, and as we wait for the case to proceed through the legal process, we are asking our community to continue to be patient, have trust, and faith in those processes."

It added that their department asks the community to continue to have faith and trust in the police Department of Baytown, as well as the professional and dedicated men and women who are committed in serving all members of the community with compassion, integrity, and professionalism.

Baytown officer Delacruz had been an eleven-year veteran of the department. Though Delacruz is still employed, he was placed in non-enforcement states, according to Baytown police spokesman, Lt.Steve Dorris. Meaning, Delacruz will not work on the streets, and his police authority has been suspended.

According to Turner's family's civil rights representatives, Ben Crump, the victim, Pamela Shantay Turner, had schizophrenia.

The shooting unfolded after more than a year

Delacruz was patrolling an apartment complex in the Houston suburb when the police officer saw Turner, whom Delacruz knew had outstanding warrants. Police said Delacruz tried to arrest Turner, as per Fox News. The interaction was captured wherein Turner yells at the officer, saying, "I'm walking! I'm walking to my house!" and then Turner accuses Delacruz of harassing her.

Pamela breaks free when Delacruz tries to handcuff her. The officer prompted to deploy his Taser. Then, Turner slowly drops to the ground.

Turner keeps yelling and asking, "Why?" The officer continues attempting to take the woman into custody, and Turner strikes her arms and claims that she is pregnant. The video shows that Turner appears to reach for Delacruz, who stands back and fires five times. Delacruz later said Turner "was able to gain control of the Taser and used it on the officer."

According to police, Delacruz attempted to administer first aid, but Turner was pronounced dead. Last May, Dorris, the police spokesman, said that Turner was not pregnant.

On the other hand, Antoinette, Turner's sister, told CNN affiliate KPRC that Turner had two children and three grandchildren.

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