Former Officer Amber Guyger Granted Parole in Botham Jean Murder Case

Why it matters locally: The national discussions on police conduct and racial bias that this case prompted have relevance in New York, where organizations like the New York Civil Liberties Union frequently advocate for police reform and accountability within the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and other local law enforcement agencies.

AUSTIN, Texas – Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was granted parole, less than seven years after a jury convicted her of murdering her neighbor, Botham Jean, in a 2018 shooting incident. Guyger received a 10-year prison sentence in October 2019 after a jury found her guilty of murder. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles made the decision regarding her parole eligibility. On the night of September 6, 2018, Guyger, then off-duty, entered Jean's apartment, which she stated she believed was her own. She subsequently shot and killed Jean, who was inside his apartment at the time. During her trial, Guyger testified that she mistook Jean for an intruder in her apartment. Prosecutors argued that Guyger failed to follow basic police procedures and acted unreasonably in shooting Jean. Jean, a 26-year-old accountant from St. Lucia, lived in the same apartment complex as Guyger. The shooting garnered national attention and prompted discussions on police conduct and racial bias. Following her conviction, Guyger began serving her sentence at the Christina Crain Unit in Gatesville, Texas. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles reviews inmates for parole eligibility based on various factors, including their sentence, behavior, and the nature of their crime.