Dramatic scuffle ends with police officer fatally shooting 'pregnant' woman

Shocking footage has shown the moment a police officer opened fire and killed a woman moments after she told him she was pregnant.

The confrontation unfolded in Baytown, Texas, on Monday evening (local time) when an officer tried to arrest Pamela Turner, 44, over outstanding warrants.

Graphic video showed the officer struggling with the woman who could be heard yelling, “I’m pregnant”.

In the video, which is circulating on social media, Turner could be heard saying "You're actually harassing me" and "I'm actually walking to my house" before falling to the ground.

While on her back, she appeared to struggle with the officer, saying, "Why? Why?", and then "I'm pregnant".

Turner then appeared to reach up towards the officer and, moments later, he fired five shots, killing her.

Police claimed the woman snatched the officer’s taser, which he had earlier used on her, and shot it towards his groin during the scuffle.

Following the incident, the police department learned Turner was not pregnant, but declined to elaborate on how it had found out.

Autopsy results have not been released.

The lieutenant said the officer was patrolling the complex about 40 kilometres east of Houston and tried to arrest the African-American woman because he knew she had outstanding warrants.

The officer, who is Hispanic and an 11-year veteran of the department, had previous dealings with Turner.

The officer, who was not seriously injured, has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Investigators are trying to contact whoever recorded the video as they were a witness to the shooting.

"It's a tragic event for everybody involved. Of course, our hearts go out to the family of the deceased as well as our officer,” Lieutenant Steve Dorris said.

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