A woman was killed by a police officer after declaring she was pregnant and suffering from schizophrenia, according to a lawyer



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While Baytown Police Lieutenant Steve Dorris said Pamela Shantay Turner, 45, was not pregnant, Crump said her family had arranged a private autopsy to determine if it was true. The results of the review will be available on Friday, he said.

"It's a woman who fights schizophrenia," said the civil rights lawyer. "Her daughter has just given birth to her granddaughter, maybe she has a moment to channel her daughter, we do not know, maybe she's trying to protect herself and say things that will stop this policeman from beating her further. "

Turner's funeral is scheduled for May 23rd. Reverend Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy, Crump said.

Police said that the officer Juan Delacruz He was patrolling an apartment complex in the suburbs of Houston when he saw Turner, whom he knew he had outstanding warrants. He tried to arrest him, the police said.

The shaky mobile phone video captured the interaction. Turner shouts to the officer: "I'm walking! I'm walking home!" and then accuses Delacruz of harassing her.

Police said the officer shot the woman after grabbing her taser and firing her.

While he tries to handcuff the woman, she is released, prompting Delacruz to deploy his Taser. Turner slowly falls to the ground, shows the video.

A fight ensues and Turner continues to shout, "Why?" Delacruz continues her attempts to place her in custody. Turner waves her arms and shouts, "I'm pregnant!"

The woman seems to reach the officer, who stands back and fires five shots, the video says.

Police later stated that Turner "was able to take control of the Taser and use it with the officer".

Delacruz tried to administer first aid, the police said, but Turner's death was declared on the scene.

Antoinette, Turner's sister, told KPRC, a subsidiary of CNN, that this woman had two children in her 20s and three grandchildren.

Delacruz has been a veteran of the department for 11 years, Baytown police said. He is on paid administrative leave when the authorities are investigating. According to the protocol, the Harris County Attorney's Office is assisting with the investigation, police said.

Dorris, the police lieutenant, said it was unfortunate and "extremely disrespectful" that the person who captured the video on a cell phone shared this video on social networks.

Police asked the owner of the video to come forward, but Mr. Crump said Thursday that he was working with the man to call on a lawyer because "he does not trust the police" .

CNN's Holly Yan contributed to this report.

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