A federal jury has ordered former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger to pay nearly $100 million to the family of Botham Jean, a Black man she fatally shot in his apartment in 2018. Guyger, sentenced to 10 years for murder, claimed she believed she was in her own apartment and shot Jean thinking he was an intruder. The jury found Guyger had used excessive force and acted under the color of law, awarding $98.6 million to Jean’s family, including $60 million in punitive damages.
This verdict comes amid increasing scrutiny of police violence, with more than 1,000 people killed by police in the US in 2024. Black Americans, who make up 13% of the population, accounted for 27% of those killed by law enforcement last year. Jean was sitting on his couch eating ice cream when Guyger entered his apartment and shot him, claiming self-defense. She failed to render aid after shooting him, and the Jean family filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by the Dallas Police Department and city council. The city was dismissed from the lawsuit, but the family’s attorney emphasized the need for police reform and accountability.
The jury decision in this case sends a clear message about police brutality not being tolerated and could potentially save lives by making officers think deeply before using deadly force. The high-profile nature of this case has brought attention to issues of racial disparity in police violence and the need for reform within law enforcement agencies.
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