Officer fatally shoots woman who was heard on video saying she was pregnant

Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Woman killed during confrontation with Baytown officer
Woman killed during confrontation with Baytown officer

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Detectives are investigating after a Baytown police officer shot a woman to death while trying to arrest her Monday night, officials say.

This happened around 10:40 p.m. at The Brixton apartment complex in the 1600 block of Garth Road.

According to police, the officer, an 11-year veteran with the Baytown Police Department, was on patrol when he came across a 45-year-old woman he'd dealt with before and knew had outstanding warrants.

The officer contacted the woman and tried to arrest her, but she struggled with him, forcing him to use his Taser on her, Baytown PD Lieutenant Steve Dorris said.

As he tried to handcuff her, she allegedly grabbed his Taser and used it on him.

Lt. Dorris says that's when the officer was forced to pull out his gun and fired multiple times at the woman, hitting her at least once.

The officer tried to render aid immediately after the shooting. She died at the scene.

"It was a sad situation. Tragic. The lady... she did live here. We would often see her, see her walk her dog around," said Raquelle Cuellar, a resident.

WATCH: This video shows another angle of the incident between the officer and woman

Police said there was a struggle over a Taser between the woman and the officer.

Someone posted video on Snapchat of the moment the Taser was used on the woman and when she was shot. Police are now hoping to talk to that person and any other witnesses.

"You're actually harassing me," the woman can be heard saying in the video as the Taser is used.

The woman also screamed "I'm pregnant" in the video.

She was later identified to authorities as Pamela Turner, 44, of Baytown. Police confirmed Tuesday afternoon that she was not pregnant.

WATCH: In this video, the woman is heard telling the officer she's pregnant

Woman shot by officer heard saying she's pregnant

The Harris County District Attorney's Office is also part of the shooting investigation, which is standard procedure in incidents like these.

The officer will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is also standard protocol.

The officer was injured by the Taser, but the extent of his injuries are unknown.

"It's a tragic event for everyone involved. Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased. We want to get all the questions answered that we can," Lt. Dorris told ABC13. "We never want things to get to this."

The officer had a body camera.