Texas police officer charged with fatal shooting of black neighbour after 'mistaking his flat for hers'

Police officer Amber Guyger has been charged with manslaughter over the fatal shooting of Botham Jean
AP/Harding University/KCSO
Nick Charity10 September 2018
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A police officer who shot and killed a man in his flat after thinking she had entered her own home has been charged with manslaughter.

Texas police officer Amber Guyger, 30, was taken into custody after the death of Botham Shem Jean, an African American, in his apartment in Dallas.

Investigations are ongoing after the case was taken on by the Texas Rangers force to eliminate any accusations of bias, and tributes have been paid to Mr Jean, an accountant and well-known community leader.

Mr Jean was a devout Christian who graduated from Harding University in Arkansas, according to his Facebook page, and was working for multinational accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Shooting victim Botham Jean was known as a devout Christian and leader at his church.
AP/Jeff Montgomery/Harding University

The victim's mother, Allie Jean, from the Caribbean Island of St Lucia, posted pictures of her son on Facebook over the weekend. A flood of tributes and messages have gone out to the family.

Yesterday the family attended an emotional prayer service for Mr Jean, known for leading worship at his local church and being a keen worship singer.

They had demanded that the officer be taken into custody, but after a short stay in Kaufman County Jail the officers posted bail for $300,000 (£232,000) and has been released, ABC reported.

Mr Jean's brother, Grant Jean, and mother, Alison (centre) attended a prayer service for the victim at Dallas West Church of Christ yesterday.
AP

Officer Guyger has been in the police department for four years and is assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division.

She was booked at the Kaufman County Jail and the investigation is ongoing, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

The BBC reports that they have engaged lawyer Benjamin Crump, who represented Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, the unarmed black teenagers who were shot dead by a neighbourhood watch volunteer and a police officer respectively.

A statement from Dallas Police Department confirmed that Chief Renee Hall had made the decision to seek a warrant for manslaughter after the incident at South Side Flats in Lamar Street, Dallas.

Chief Hall said on Friday: "Last night, a female Dallas Police officer returned to what she believed to be her apartment after her shift ended – she was still in uniform when she encountered Mr. Botham Shem Jean inside the apartment.

South Side Flats, in Lamar Street, Dallas, where the shooting took place on Thursday.
AP/Ryan Tarinelli

"It’s not clear what the interaction was between her and the victim."

Then at some point she fired her weapon striking the victim, he added.

"She called 911 – officers responded in about four minutes. Dallas Fire Rescue also responded and took Mr Jean to the hospital where he later died."

“On behalf of the Dallas Police Department, we are continuing to pray for Mr Jean’s family and ask that the community remain patient as this investigation is conducted."

Dr. Pamela Grayson raises her fist as "Young King" Solomon Grayson, 6, peaks behind her sign during a Mothers Against Police Brutality candlelight vigil for Botham Jean
AP

The Mothers Against Police Brutality group held a candlelight vigil for Mr Jean at the Jack Evans Police Headquarters on Friday, where protesters held plaques, saying "You could be Botham Jean".

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said: "Botham Jean was exactly the sort of citizen we want to have in the city of Dallas. And for that reason this is a terrible thing that has happened. Not only has he lost his life, but we've lost a potential leader for this city for decades to come."

PricewaterhouseCoopers said: "This is a terrible tragedy. Botham Jean was a member of the PwC family in our Dallas office and we are simply heartbroken to hear of his death."

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