A Texas police officer who shot and killed a 93-year-old woman last week has been fired.
The Hearne City Council voted unanimously to fire Officer Stephen Stem during a meeting Saturday. Stem was not in attendance. (Via KPRC)
Police say Stem responded to a call from Pearlie Golden's nephew, Roy Jones, Tuesday when she became angry after failing her driver's license renewal test. (Via KBTX)
KBTX reports Jones would not give Golden her car keys. Jones then ran out of the house to call 911 after Golden retrieved a gun.
Stem says he ordered her multiple times to put the gun down. Officials say she fired shots to the ground — prompting Stem to fire an unconfirmed number of shots, two of which struck her. Stem's attorney says his actions were justified.
"In that kind of situation, Officer Stem doesn't have time to ask someone's age, to ask someone's ability to understand." (Via KXAN)
Golden was transported to the hospital where she died. The incident has shaken residents of the small town, and many have protested what they call a corrupt police force. (Via TXCN)
They also expressed concerns over another shooting incident involving the same officer.
The Eagle reports officials investigated a prior incident in 2012, six months after Stem joined the police force. Stem reportedly shot and killed a 28-year-old firing a gun from inside a car at a housing complex. Stem was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
Fellow officers expressed concerns about the City Council's decision coming before an investigation has even been completed. The more recent shooting case will still face a grand jury, but Stem's attorney believes he will be cleared of any charges. KHOU reports Stem will consider suing the city.
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