13 September 2018
Botham Jean’s family says he did not know or have a relationship with
Officer Amber Guyger
By CBS News
CBS NEWS – The family of a black man who was fatally shot inside his own apartment by an off-duty, white cop in Dallas wants to put one rumor to rest. Botham Jean’s family says he did not know or have a relationship with the officer who shot him.
CBS News’ Omar Villafranca spoke with Jean’s family, who says they don’t think Dallas police officer Amber Guyger is telling the whole story about what happened in that apartment building last Thursday. The family is still “lost” as to what happened that night.
“To hear that his door was open, he would never — and have the lights off — he would never do that,” said Allisa, Botham’s sister. “He was like me. He does not like the dark.”
Believing Botham to be a burglar, Guyger says she gave “verbal commands that were ignored” then “fired her handgun two times,” hitting him once in the torso. It wasn’t until Guyger “turned on the…lights” and “called 911” that she realized she was “at the wrong apartment.”
“He made sure to let everyone know this is mine – it’s my red carpet,” Allisa said.
Botham grew up in St. Lucia but his brother, Brandt, says that he was well aware of racial tensions in America.
Guyger has been charged with manslaughter, but some demonstrators want her charged with murder. A grand jury will ultimately decide whether Guyger’s charges get bumped up. Her attorney denied CBS News’ request for comment.
A funeral for Botham is being held on Thursday.