Jackson Lee: “I stand with the family of Pamela Turner. We must get to the truth, the facts and we will not relent until justice is served. The circumstances surrounding Ms. Turner’s death are shocking and I demand a state and federal inquiry into her death. First, what predicate did the officer involved have in detaining Ms. Turner? Why were no efforts made to deescalate the controversy so that it did not end in a loss of life? And, if Ms. Turner was known to law enforcement in prior dealings, did they not also know about her mental state? In recent months, we have seen too many instances of these types of killings.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget, released this statement following the shooting death of Pamela Turner by an officer of the Baytown Police Department:

“I am deeply troubled to learn of the death of the Pamela Shantay Turner, who was shot and killed by a Baytown Police Officer. She was a mother of three children, and she died the day after Mother’s Day.

“In the investigation following Ms. Turner’s death, the officer indicated that he was patrolling as part of his duty, and recognized Ms. Turner from “prior dealings” and proceeded to commence an arrest but she resisted. Nothing in the record suggests any wrongdoing by Ms. Turner prior to this chance encounter with Baytown Police. Reports suggest the officer attempted to arrest Ms. Turner. The officer alleges Ms. Turner reached for his Taser and a lieutenant with the Baytown police claims that Ms. Turner actually tased the officer. According to the Baytown Police Department, the officer fired his duty weapon and struck multiple rounds at Ms. Turner. The shooting was recorded by a civilian and caught on cell phone video. After her death, it was revealed that Ms. Turner suffers from serious mental ailment. Prior to her death, Ms. Turner, 44, was heard stating that she was pregnant. After her death, this was determined not to be the case.

“I stand with the family of Pamela Turner. We must get to the truth, the facts and we will not relent until justice is served. The circumstances surrounding Ms. Turner’s death are shocking and I demand a state and federal inquiry into her death. First, what predicate did the officer involved have in detaining Ms. Turner? Why were no efforts made to deescalate the controversy so that it did not end in a loss of life? And, if Ms. Turner was known to law enforcement in prior dealings, did they not also know about her mental state? In recent months, we have seen too many instances of these types of killings.”