The former Dallas police officer who was convicted of murdering Botham Jean after entering his apartment and shooting him in 2018 was released from prison on Friday morning after spending seven years in prison. Amber Guyger, 38, regained her freedom a little more than two weeks after the Texas board of pardons and paroles approved her release, despite opposition from Jean’s family. The former officer was sentenced to 10 years in prison after her murder conviction on 1 October 2019.
Her parole was approved exactly seven years after that verdict. The case against Guyger drew national attention after she fatally shot Jean, 26, inside his own Dallas apartment in September 2018. During her trial, Guyger maintained that she had accidentally parked on the fourth floor of the garage at the apartment complex where she and Jean lived.
Jean’s apartment was located one floor above hers. Guyger testified that she believed she was entering her own residence when she walked into Jean’s apartment. According to her account, she attempted to unlock the door with her key when it pushed open.
She claimed she mistook Jean for a burglar and fired her weapon because she feared for her life. Jean had been eating ice cream and watching television in his apartment when Guyger entered and shot him dead. Guyger was taken into custody three days after the deadly shooting and was subsequently dismissed from the Dallas police department before standing trial.
A jury found her guilty of murder. She faced a possible sentence of life imprisonment. Jurors ultimately gave her a 10-year prison term.
Prosecutors had pushed for a minimum of 28 years, choosing that number to represent the age Jean would have reached at the time. Guyger first sought parole in 2024. But the parole board denied her request.
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