d, and that is something we continue to live with every day,  the family said.

Attorney Lee Merritt, who represented Jean's family, released a statement as well.

 Releasing Ms. Guyger after seven years makes that loss feel even smaller in the eyes of the system,  Merritt wrote.  Justice cannot be selective when a life is taken without cause. Accountability has to mean something to everyone. Today's decision tells grieving families that it can be cut short. 

What did Amber Guyger do?

Timeline:

On Sept. 6, 2018, Guyger returned to her home after a more than 13-hour shift and mistook Jean's apartment for her own.

Both Guyger and Jean lived in the South Side Flats near Downtown Dallas. Guyger lived on the third floor. Jean lived on the fourth floor.

Guyger said she did not notice she was on the fourth floor, or see the red doormat outside of Jean's apartment. She walked inside, and shot Jean twice, believing he was a burglar.

Guyger called 911. First responders took Jean to a nearby hospital where he died.

Authorities arrested Guyger three days later. The Dallas Police Department placed her on paid administrative leave and fired her 18 days later.

In 2019, a Dallas County jury convicted Guyger of murdering Jean and sentenced her to 10 years in prison.

The murder of Botham Jean

Dig deeper:

During her trial, Guyger testified that she fired her weapon as Botham moved towards her. She claimed in court that she said,  Show me your hands, show me your hands. 

However, crime scene reconstruction expert Michael Maloney disputed her account after analyzing diagrams from the Dallas Police Department and Texas Rangers, along with bullet trajectory evidence.  He was rising from a sitting position as he began facing the door, and she had just entered the kitchen area when the two shots were fired. Her description of the event is inconsistent with the forensic evidence,  Maloney stated.

In 2021, Bo's Law was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.

The law, named after Botham Jean, requires Texas police officers to keep body cameras running for the entire duration of an investigation.

Who is Botham Jean?

Dig deeper:

According to court documents, Jean graduated from the top of his class in Castries, St. Lucia, and came to the United States to attend Harding University in Arkansas.

His family says he worked as a worship leader in the international Church of Christ, serving the Dallas West Church of Christ.

He was 26-years-old.