Lawyer: Texas cop who shot woman knew her mental illness

the Hispanic officer shot the ing “You’re actually harassing African American woman me” and “I’m actually walking during an attempted arrest to my house” to the officer as after she shocked him with he tries to arrest her. The pair HOUSTON — A Houston-area his Taser. can be seen struggling and police officer knew his neighThe officer — who police Turner falls to the ground. bor suffered from mental ill- have not identified by name — They continue to scuffle and ness and should have offered was portrayed as the aggres- she says, “Why? Why?” and assistance when that was sor Thursday, with Turner’s then “I’m pregnant.” apparent, but instead he family saying he approached Moments later, something fatally shot the 44-year-old her as she headed to her flashes as Turner reaches her woman, a lawyer for the vic- home in the same apart- arm out toward the officer. tim’s family said Thursday. ment complex where the Suddenly, he pulls away from

Pamela Turner had strug- officer lived. her, steps back and fires five gled with paranoid schizo“She was a lady who had gunshots. phrenia since her diagnosis mental health issues. What Police have said that in 2005, and may have been she needed was a helping autopsy results show Turner in crisis the night she was hand from the police offiwas not pregnant, but the killed, attorney Ben Crump cer. Instead she got five bulautopsy report has not been said during a press conferlets,” Crump said. released. ence. A police spokesman has Crump suggested Turner

Turner was shot by a Baysaid the officer tried to arrest might have claimed to be town police officer Monday Turner because he knew pregnant to protect hernight in the parking lot of there were outstanding warself because she feared for her apartment complex rants against her. her life, or due to confusion following a struggle that a In the video of the shooting, brought on by her mental illbystander captured on video. which was posted on social ness and the recent birth of The city’s police have said media, Turner is heard say- her granddaughter.