Source: Harding University
Botham Jean's Family To Sue Cop Who Killed Him And The City Of Dallas
Source: Harding University
Lee Merritt, the attorney representing Botham Jean's family, revealed their plans to file a lawsuit.
The family of Botham Jean, the 26-year-old who was killed in his own apartment, is planning to sue the city of Dallas and the former police officer who fatally shot him.
Lee Merritt, the attorney representing Jean's family, told the Associated Press that Jean's family plans to file a federal lawsuit claiming excessive use of force by Amber Guyger. Merritt, however, didn't say when the lawsuit would be filed.
READ: Dallas Officer Who Killed Botham Jean After Mistaking His Apartment For Hers Has Been Fired
Guyger was recently fired from the Dallas Police Department. The department released a statement via Twitter Monday afternoon announcing her firing.
“Dallas Police Chief U. Reneé Hall terminated Police Officer Amber Guyger during a hearing held September 24, 2018,” the statement reads. “An Internal Affairs investigation concluded that on September 9, 2018, Officer Guyger, engaged in adverse conduct when she was arrested for manslaughter.”
“Officer Guyger was terminated for her actions,” the document continues. “Under civil service rules, Officer Guyger has the right to appeal her discipline.”
Guyger shot Jean Thursday night. After returning home from a 12-hour shift, she walked into Jean’s apartment and shot her gun twice, killing the 26-year-old. After the shooting, she proceeded to call 911.
She also said that the apartment door was left ajar and that the room was completely dark when she fired. It was only after the shooting that she turned on the lights and realized she was in the wrong apartment.
Since the incidence, Guyger has since claimed that Jean didn’t listen to her “verbal commands” before fatally shooting him.
Source: Associated Press