Contributed by Jordyn Fields
Sacramento Kings forward, Harrison Barnes, and his wife have stepped up and offered to pay for the funeral of Atatiana Jefferson.
The 28-year-old Fort Worth, Texas resident was playing video games with her nephew when a police officer doing a wellness check fired through a window and killed her.
The officer involved, Aaron Dean, quit the police force and was later arrested and charged with murder.
Barnes spoke to reporters about his decision, stating, “It’s about the family. It’s about everything they’re going through. Our prayers obviously are with them. It was a gesture my wife and I wanted to do for them.”
.@SacramentoKings star Harrison Barnes and his wife will pay for the funeral of Atatiana Jefferson, the woman who was shot and killed by a police officer while she was in her own home.
(via @James_HamNBCS)pic.twitter.com/gkGZk8vf3y
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 18, 2019
According to a lawyer for Jefferson’s family, The Barnes’ family are covering more than half of the funeral service expenses. The rest is being covered by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle, Malik Jackson.
Barnes told ESPN he has not spoken to Jefferson’s family as they were “just giving them space respectfully.”
Atatiana Jefferson’s funeral is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Potter’s House of Dallas.
