Amber Guyger, a four-year veteran police officer assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division of Dallas Police, was like any other law enforcement officer until September 6, 2018, when she ended the life of an unarmed 26-year-old man, Botham Shem Jean, in one of the most bizarre incidents that shook the United States in 2018.
In addition to well-deserved widespread criticism, Guyger became the subject of a criminal investigation after the incident. She was 30 years old at the time of the infamous shooting and was sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The incident has revived the longstanding debate about police brutality against colored people in the United States.
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Why Did She Shot Botham Jean?
According to Amber Guyger, the shooting of Botham Jean was a confusion of identity. Botham Jean and Botham Jean had actually been neighbors who lived in the South Side Flats at 1210 South Lamar Street in Dallas, Texas, and since Guyger lived in a third-floor apartment, Jean’s was directly above her fourth-floor apartment.
However, on that fateful Thursday, September 6, 2018, the notorious police officer mistakenly parked her car and got out of her 4th-floor apartment instead of hers. According to reports, Guyger discovered Jean trying to gain access to what she thought was her apartment, and, thinking he was a burglar, shot him twice with her service weapon. She is said to have been on her way back from a 15-hour shift in full police uniform, and the shooting is said to have taken place around 10 pm.
Amber Guyger recognized her costly insanity and quickly called the police department. When the task force arrived in about four minutes, she told them that she mistook his apartment for hers. The team provided first aid to the victim, Botham Jean, and he was then transferred to nearby Baylor University Medical Center, where he died after unsuccessful attempts to revive him. According to the Dallas County M.E.’s office, he died of a gunshot wound to the chest and the other shot hit him in the upper body.
Amber Guyger Arrest and Prosecution
Police officer. Amber Guyger was not arrested at the scene, but a blood sample was taken from her to test for alcohol and drugs. To the dismay of Botham Jean’s family members lying on the ground and some other observers, she remained free for several days after the ugly incident. Finally, on September 9, 2018, she turned herself in to the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department, whereupon she was sent to prison. However, she was released after a few hours after posting $300,000 bail.
The investigation into the killing of Botham Jean by Amber Guyger was initially conducted under the Dallas Police Department’s protocol for shooting police officers, but this has since changed due to the specifics of the case. To avoid any appearance of bias, the Dallas Police Department also withdrew as a lead investigative agency and the case was transferred to the Texas Ranger Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
A grand jury has also been appointed to decide the charges against the errant police officer, the more serious charge of murder, a first-degree crime, or the charge of manslaughter, a second-degree crime.
Amber Guyger Relationship with Botham Jean
The only known connection between Botham Shem Jean and the policewoman who cost him his life is the fact that they lived in the same building. Since the shooting, various theories have been put forward by the public to find a plausible explanation for the unfortunate event. Although the notorious police officer has stated that it was all a mistake on her part, many continue to speculate about the true motive for her actions. The health and mental condition of the police officer has been questioned, possible use of hard drugs has been questioned, as has her uncanny zeal to pull the trigger on an unarmed man.
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On September 13, 2018, a memorial service was held at Dallas West Church of Christ in honor of Botham Shem Jean. The 26-year-old was born on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia and was described by friends and relatives as an exemplary citizen, amazing personality, devout Christian, and talented singer.
Until his unfortunate death, he was an employee in the risk coverage department of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Dallas. Jean joined PwC as an intern in July 2016 after graduating from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting and management information systems.