KBTX NewsHEARNE, Texas – The nephew of Pearlie Golden says his aunt fired two shots before she was shot and killed by a Hearne police officer.
Roy Jones said he took his 93-year-old aunt to the Department of Public Safety on Tuesday to renew her driver’s license, but was denied after failing her test. Jones tells News 3 he took her home and could tell she was upset.
Jones said he was sitting on the porch with Golden when she demanded her keys back. He refused to give them to her, and Golden went inside the house to get her .38 caliber revolver, Jones said. He then ran to the side of the house and called police.
Officer Stephen Stem responded to that 911 call. Stem ordered Golden to put the gun down, but Golden refused. Jones said Golden fired two shots gun into the ground. At that point, Robertson County District Attorney Coty Seigert said Stem fired four shots, hitting Golden twice, once in the arm and once in the upper chest. Golden later died at St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan.
Seigert said because the case is still under investigation, he could neither confirm nor deny that Golden fired her gun.
Jones told News 3 he dropped to the ground and started to cry after witnessing the shooting. He blames himself for what happened, even though he knew he had no choice but to call police.
Stem’s attorney, Robert McCabe, released a statement to News 3. In it, McCabe said he is “fully confident that Officer Stem’s actions were immediately necessary and legally justified.” McCabe goes on to say “Although the end result was tragic, his actions likely saved not only his own life, but also saved the life of (Golden’s nephew).”
Quanell X, with the New Black Panther Nation, led a march of about 100 people to the police station in protest Thursday morning. Protest leaders called for the arrest and indictment of Officer Stem. Mayor Ruben Gomez said he will recommend during Saturday’s special council meeting that Stem be terminated.
“We understand that members of the community have questions and are seeking a swift, emotional reaction from the Hearne City Council,” said McCabe. “As with any case, we hope cooler heads will prevail and look forward to an objective, professional and thorough investigation by the Texas Rangers.”
The District Attorney’s Office tells News 3 it could take up to two months for the case to be presented to a grand jury.
The District Attorney also addressed a rumor about Stem’s possible relation to a District Court Judge.
In a statement, the district attorney said “In an effort to curb some rumors, 82nd District Court Judge Robert Stem (the District Court Judge for Robertson and Falls Counties) is in no way related to Hearne PD Officer Stephen Stem.”
Golden’s funeral is scheduled for next Saturday (May 17) at Old Elam Missionary Baptist Church where she was a member for most of her life.
News 3’s David Norris spoke with McCabe today. He’ll have more on what he has to say tonight at 6.
http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Nephew-Pearlie-Golden-Fired-Gun-Twice-258634411.html
dont call the police
But……..’he had no choice but to call po-lice” what a phukking lame
ass excuse to have murder inc.(cops) come out and kill your aunt for what? nothing, this idiot jones gets the dumbass of the year award, imo.
Ya mean to say that the nephew couldn`t take the gun away from a 93 yr. old lady? Sh*t, yea right
yea your right Daniel. Hey by the way did the link work?
He should have handed over her keys when she asked for them.
… he made her upset by not giving her back her keys.
Smart ass kid got his grandmother killed…. for what.
She’s 93… what did the smart ass think she was gonna do?
Family dispute? Call the cops.
Disputes are so much easier to resolve if one of the disputing parties is dead.