Sacramento Kings small forward Harrison Barnes and his wife have offered to pay the funeral of Atatiana Jefferson, the Texas Woman who was fatally shot by a police officer in her own home. Barnes played with the Dallas Mavericks for more than two seasons before he was traded in Feburary.
Jefferson was home babysitting her eight year old nephew when now former officer Aaron Dean shot her through a window. Police were responding to a concerned neighbors call about her front door being left open. Dean has since been charged with murder.
“My wife and I want to do something for that family,” Barnes said in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area. “It was a tragic situation that happened and no one should be killed during a wellness check, but the biggest thing is … anytime someone has to go through that, the last thing you want to have to worry about is trying to come up with the money for a funeral. It’s about the family, it’s about everything they’re going through and our prayers are obviously with them.”
Philadelphia Eagles star Malik Johnson has also committed to covering the remaining costs. According to the family’s attorney Lee Merritt, her funeral will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. He said it will be open to the public.
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