Family Of Baytown Woman Killed By Police Releases Autopsy Report

HOUSTON — The family of a Baytown woman who was shot and killed during a scuffle with a Baytown Police officer, released the findings of an independent autopsy on Wednesday. According to the report, Baytown Police officer Juan Delacruz shot an unarmed Pamela Turner in the face, the chest and abdomen.

According to the initial investigation, Delacruz said he was on patrol and recognized Turner as someone who had outstanding arrest warrants.

Delacruz said he tried to arrest Turner and she resisted, so he used his Taser which had no effect. A video shows the pair struggling in a dark parking lot. Delacruz said Turner grabbed his Taser and used it on him, and he drew his weapon and fired.

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Turner, who allegedly suffered from mental illness, died at the scene.

“Pamela Turner was lying on the ground helpless and the officer was out of harm’s way when he shot and shot and shot and shot and shot,” said Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing Turner's family. “She posed no imminent threat to the officer. There is nothing anyone can say to justify this killing. The officer looked her in the face and shot her dead when it was unnecessary for him to do so — it’s right there on the video. We are outraged and completely devastated.”

Delacruz was placed on administrative leave after the shooting, and the police department began an investigation.

Two days after the shooting, the investigation was turned over to the Texas Rangers by the Baytown Police and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

"While Chief (Keith) Dougherty has full faith and confidence in his investigators, he has also heard and understands the public demands for transparency. He wants the family of Ms. Turner and the community to have the same faith and confidence in their police department, and the officers who work hard every day to keep our community safe," Baytown Police Spokesman Lt. Steve Dorris said in a press release.

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Meanwhile, Crump who is working in tandem with prominent Texas attorney Bob Hilliard toward justice for Ms. Turner’s family, said the legal team will explore every legal remedy possible to seek full justice for the grieving family.

The Crump legal team is pushing the police department and medical examiner for full transparency and to publicly release the official information they have, including the police report, any bodycam video, and even the medical examiner’s autopsy.

“The public has the right to know so they can hold the police department and the officer accountable for his actions – using lethal force on an unarmed woman,” Crump said. “So we continue to ask: How long will it take?”

A funeral will be held for Turner on Thursday at Lilly Grove Baptist Church, 7034 Tierwester St., Houston, 77021. The eulogy will be delivered by the Rev. Al Sharpton.