In a Dallas courtroom on October 1, 2019, former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was found guilty of murder in the shooting death of her neighbor, Botham Jean. The verdict came after a highly publicized trial that captivated the nation and sparked intense debate about police accountability and the use of force. Guyger, who fatally shot Jean in his own apartment, faced a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The jury’s decision was met with emotional reactions. Jean’s sister sobbed upon hearing the verdict, while his mother raised her fists in the air, exclaiming, “God is good.”
The tragic incident occurred on September 6, 2018. Amber Guyger, who was off duty but still in uniform after working a 13.5-hour shift with the Dallas Police Department’s crime response team, entered Botham Jean’s apartment, mistaking it for her own. Guyger lived on the third floor of the South Side Flats complex, while Jean, a 26-year-old accountant from St. Lucia, resided in the apartment directly above her.
Guyger testified that she mistakenly parked on the fourth floor of the garage and, upon arriving at what she believed was her apartment, found the door ajar. According to her testimony, she saw a silhouette inside and, fearing for her life, drew her weapon and fired, striking Jean twice. Prosecutors argued that the bullet trajectory indicated Jean was either rising from his couch or cowering when Guyger fired her service weapon, as reported by Fox News.
Initially charged with manslaughter, Guyger was later indicted on a murder charge by a grand jury. Her defense team argued that the shooting was a “tragic but innocent” mistake, emphasizing the exhaustion and confusion she experienced after a long shift.
Dallas County District Court Judge Tammy Kemp ruled that the jury could consider the controversial “castle doctrine,” which essentially states that a person has the right to defend their home. Legal analysts suggested that the trial’s outcome depended on whether the jury believed Guyger’s account of the events and deemed her mistake reasonable.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Jason Fine criticized Guyger for inconsistencies in her testimony. He argued that her unreasonable decision led to Jean’s death, emphasizing the importance of reasonableness in the case. Fine also challenged the jury to look beyond Guyger’s status as a police officer and judge her as they would any other defendant.
On Friday, Guyger took the stand in her own defense, tearfully recounting the events leading up to the shooting. She testified that she was “scared to death” and that her “heart rate just skyrocketed.” Guyger stated that she “never wanted to take an innocent person’s life.” She reenacted how she approached the apartment door, carrying her backpack, lunch box, and police vest in her left hand. She claimed to have heard sounds inside and noticed the door was ajar before seeing the silhouette and firing her weapon, yelling, “Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands!” She testified, “I was scared he was going to kill me.”
Throughout the trial, jurors heard from officers who responded to the scene and attempted to resuscitate Jean. Neighbors and an investigator testified about the common occurrence of residents mistakenly going to the wrong floor in the apartment complex. The jury also heard the 911 call made by Guyger after the shooting, in which she repeatedly said, “I didn’t mean to.”
Prosecutors argued that Guyger was distracted by a sexually explicit conversation with her partner on the police department, causing her to miss several signs that she was on the wrong floor, including a different colored doormat and lighted apartment numbers. The case highlighted the complexities of police work, the potential for human error, and the devastating consequences of split-second decisions.
Extraordinary moments in Dallas courtroom: Amber Guyger sentenced to prison