93-year-old Pearlie Golden was shot and killed by police officer Stephen Stem outside her apartment on Tuesday evening.
The Hearne Police Department received a 911 called earlier in the day from Perlie’s nephew.
Her nephew claimed that the Texas Department of Public Safety refused to renew Pearlie’s driver’s license and when her nephew tried to take her keys, she brought out her own gun and threatened him.
When police arrived at Pearlie’s home, she was waving a gun around in her front yard. Officer Stem asked her to put down her weapon and then fired a shot that wounded the elderly woman.
Pearlie was taken to St Joseph’s Hospital in Bryan where she died from the gunshot wound. Friends, family members and neighbors of Pearlie are devastated by the incident and joined together for a candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening.
“Even if she did have a gun, she is in her 90’s,” said Lawanda Cooke, a friend of Pearlie. “They could have shot in the air to scare her. Maybe she would have dropped it. I don’t see her shooting anyone.
Officer Stem has been placed on paid administrative leave while the Texas Rangers, Hearne Police and the Robertson County District Attorney’s Office investigate the matter.
“While it is too early in the investigation to comment on any of the facts or evidence stated above, I can say that this was a very tragic occurrence,” said District Attorney Coty Siegert. “My prayers go out to the family members of Miss Golden and to the Hearne Community as a whole.”
Officer Stem did not release a statement about the incident.
Those who knew Pearlie described her as a sweet and gentle woman who would never hurt anyone.
Do you think the officer was right to shoot the elderly woman, even if she was armed?
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