Hearne Police Officer Stem Fired For Killing 93-year-old Black Lady

Pearlie Golden and Stephen Stem

Photos courtesy of KBTX News

Hearne City Council fires officer in elderly woman's fatal shooting.

By H. Nelson Goodson

May 11, 2014

Hearne, Texas - On Saturday, the City Council of Hearne, TX voted 6-0 to fire Officer Stephen Stem for fatally shooting Pearlie Golden,  93, on Tuesday around 6:00 p.m. for brandishing a gun outside of her home, KBTX News reported. Stem was not present at the city council meeting when it was decided to terminate him.

According to police, Golden's nephew was attempting to take the keys of her vehicle three days after the state decided not grant her a driver's license. She became very upset and threaten her nephew with the gun because her license was not renewed.

Her nephew called police because she began to wave a gun. When an officer arrived and after ordering Golden to drop the gun three times, former Hearne Police Officer Stem who is White shot three times striking her twice. Golden died four hours later at St. Joseph's Hospital, according to police.

Golden who is Black was known to be real sweet, social and friendly lady by the citizens of Hearne. The Texas Rangers are investigating the deadly shooting.
Stem's attorney claims it was a justified shooting, but the city council fired Stem from the police department.

Stem has worked in the department for two years and Golden is the second person that he has killed. He was hired on July 22, 2012 and six months into the job, he shot Taderalle Satshell. Satshell fired shots at officers from his vehicle at a parking lot in Columbus Village Apartments. Stem returned fire killing Satchell. The fatal shooting of Satchell was ruled justified.