93-Yr-Old Woman Shot and Killed by Police
A 93-year-old woman is shot and killed by a police officer at her home in Hearne.
Pearlie Golden, known in the neighborhood as Ms. Sully, was pronounced dead Tuesday night at St. Joseph Hospital. The elderly woman was rushed there after being shot by a male officer at her house on Pin Oak Street. Multiple witnesses tell us she was shot at least five times.
Hearne police are not ready to say whether Golden was armed or why the officer felt threatened.
“All I know is that they were called out here,” said Robertson County District Attorney Coty Siegert. “They were dispatched out here to address the situation. Again, I’m not sure exactly what that situation was, but it was not a random encounter.”
Residents are questioning why police would shoot Golden who they described as a sweet, sweet woman.
“Even if she did have a gun, she is in her 90’s,” said Lawanda Cooke. “They could have shot in the air to scare her. Maybe she would have dropped it. I don’t see her shooting anyone.
Siegert says the case will eventually be presented to a Grand Jury, which is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.
The Texas Rangers and Robertson County District Attorney’s Office are investigating.
From the Robertson County District Attorney’s Office:
“Hearne Police Officers responded to a call Tuesday evening regarding a lady brandishing a firearm. Upon reaching the scene, Officer Stephen Stem located Miss Pearly Golden, a 93 year old Hearne Resident, and confirmed that she did have a firearm. Officer Stem engaged the elderly female asking her to put down the weapon and then ultimately firing his own sidearm wounding Miss Golden who later died at St Joseph’s Hospital.
This matter is currently under investigation by the Texas Rangers with the assistance of the Robertson County District Attorney’s Office. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be presented to a Grand Jury. 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 and my prayers go out to the family members of Miss Golden and to the Hearne Community as a whole.”
