GUILTY TX - Former Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger, indicted for Murder of Botham Shem Jean #8

[Seattle1]

AG's apartment #1378 is currently available and viewable at link below.

While #1478 (BJ) actual apartment not available/shown at link, I believe the layout is same as AG's unit directly below (and other 4th floor 1 BR units).

From the apartment entry - the kitchen and living room area is quite open floor plan.

I don't recall that BR was sitting in the dark. It's still difficult to comprehend how AG did not recognize this was not her apartment...

MOO

South Side Flats Apartments - Dallas, TX | Apartments.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A man was killed in an apartment shooting Friday, police say.

Authorities say officers responded to a shooting call around 10:37 p.m. near the 4606 block of Cedar Springs Road.

When they arrived they found a male in the parking lot of the Atera apartments who had been shot.

Authorities say the victim was transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

According to officials, the victim's name will not be released until the medical examiner's office identifies the man.

Witnesses told police they heard several gunshots and saw a silver four-door sedan leaving the parking lot after the shooting.

Authorities were not able to provide a physical description of a possible suspect.

Lizy LilBit Hill

 

[imstilla.grandma]

According to the Dallas Morning News, officers arrived on the scene at around 10:30 p.m. to the Atera apartments located at the 4600 block of Cedar Springs Road in Dallas’ Turtle Creek neighborhood.

Per that report:

Police found a man on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Witnesses told police they heard several gunshots and saw a silver four-door sedan speeding out of the parking lot.

The Dallas Police Department (DPD) has yet release information about the victim or the suspect. But attorneys with knowledge of the case and Brown’s family confirmed Brown’s identity via social media on Saturday afternoon.

Dominique Alexander, a Dallas area civil rights activist who is close to Brown’s family, posted about his death on Facebook:

I [have] been notified that Joshua Brown who testified on the stand in the Amber Guyger trial was shot & killed last night, not sure what happen but I will keep you updated on new developments.

Lee Merritt, the attorney for Botham Jean’s family, later confirmed the news in a separate Facebook post.

“Joshua Brown, the next door neighbor of #BothamJean was killed last night after being shot several times by an unknown assailant,” Merritt noted. “Local media has reported on the shooting but have not confirmed Brown’s identity. Because, Brown worked closely with prosecutors just a week ago to ensure Amber Guyger was properly convicted in the murder trial, the DA’s office has fairly direct contact with Brown and his family. An ADA has confirmed that it was in fact Brown who was killed although they have yet to identify a suspect or motive for the shooting. The case is now in the hands of the Dallas Police Department. Brown’s testimony stood out as a fact witness who was approaching his apartment directly across from Botham Jean’s apartment when shots rang out.”

Online reaction thus far has been fierce–with many people terming Brown’s death an “assassination,” “hit,” and/or revenge on behalf of Dallas cops. While the timing of Brown’s death is suspicious, there is at this time no evidence to support that.

Watch Joshua Brown’s testimony in the case via the player below:

Attorney for Botham Jean’s Family: Neighbor Who Testified Against Amber Guyger Shot and Killed in Dallas

 

[CrimeDawg123]

What? Oh no, how tragic

Dallas police search for murder suspect after shooting

Man fatally shot at Dallas apartment complex, police say

 

[kittythehare]

AG's apartment #1378 is currently available and viewable at link below.

While #1478 (BJ) actual apartment not available/shown at link, I believe the layout is same as AG's unit directly below (and other 4th floor 1 BR units).

From the apartment entry - the kitchen and living room area is quite open floor plan.

I don't recall that BR was sitting in the dark. It's still difficult to comprehend how AG did not recognize this was not her apartment...

MOO

South Side Flats Apartments - Dallas, TX | Apartments.com

Was not dark. his TV was on , ambient light. Far as I remember his laptop was also on, but that was after the police arrived...
There was enough ambient light from those objects to line up a shot and take it.
Also, remember the female neighbour testifying that she went to balcony , wondering if BJ was aware of the shots? She testified that his lights were ON. But I'm unclear how soon after the shooting she noticed that precisely.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

S. Lee Merritt, Esq. on Twitter
"I just spoke with Joshua Browns mother. She is devastated. We all are. Joshua Brown was key witness in the murder of Botham Jean that helped put Amber Guyger away. We need answers."
-- S. Lee Merritt

 

[Charlot123]

This is tragic. Appalling.

Shocking, and then more.

 

[Hope4More]

I wonder if the witness/neighbor, Marc Lipscomb, mistakenly went in the wrong apartment as a result of preoccupation from being pizzed. How about the others that mistakenly went to the wrong apartment.

Twas a simple reply to a seemingly simple, single, inference-free question: why enraged.

But, OK. Here's one for you: how many peeps living there went to the wrong apartment, entered the apartment, had enough time to see they were obviously in the wrong apartment, but choice to shoot to kill the person inside?

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Attorney for Botham Jean’s Family: Neighbor Who Testified Against Amber Guyger Shot and Killed in Dallas

 

[LadyL]

Witnesses still swear to god on the bible before they testify, and that's the reality of separation of church and state.

You are right ...what happens with a Muslim or an atheist in court ...its still a bible right ? That's kinda wrong or it seems like the swear would be for lack of a better word REAL? I know it's just symbolic but I've never really thought much of it

here we can 'affirm' instead of 'swearing on a bible'
not sure if they have that option in the U.S.?

 

[MadMcGoo]

Joshua Brown’s testimony seemed to be one of the more telling accounts. IMO. He admitted to hearing a conversation prior to the gunshots, between a male and female but could not make out the words being said. And he immediately ran back down the hall and into the parking garage. I can think of one case in particular that witnesses over exaggerated their statements in order to fit the majority narrative. This was clearly seen by looking at their grand jury testimony and comparing it to media interviews they had done. This was just one of the seemingly small details heard throughout the trial that I feel like were overlooked. I think if Mr. Brown wanted to he could just as easily have said he walked up and saw... (insert whatever exaggerated story you’d like). But he didn’t. He could have stated that he did hear the words being spoken down the hall. He didn’t.

Him being killed is worrisome to me, considering my belief that he gave very honest testimony. I feel like some people would have been angered by the fact that a black neighbor who was within very close proximity to apartment #1478 at the exact moment shots were fired. And that he didn’t testify to something like “AG broke into the apartment” or she “demanded to be let into the apartment”. I certainly hope it is not related although it’s a tragedy nonetheless!

ETA: “conversation” was the wrong choice of words... he heard a brief exchange...

 

[mickey2942]

S. Lee Merritt, Esq. on Twitter
"I just spoke with Joshua Browns mother. She is devastated. We all are. Joshua Brown was key witness in the murder of Botham Jean that helped put Amber Guyger away. We need answers."
-- S. Lee Merritt
View attachment 207829

And it is in the hands of the Dallas Police Department. Don't hold your breath.

 

[Charlot123]

\

here we can 'affirm' instead of 'swearing on a bible'
not sure if they have that option in the U.S.?

Yes. I copied it from the Wikipedia.

"Option of taking an oath or an affirmation
The Constitutional language gives the option to "affirm" instead of "swear". While the reasons for this are not documented, it may relate to certain Christians, including Quakers, who apply this scripture literally: "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation" (James 5:12, KJV). Franklin Pierce was the only president known to use the word "affirm" rather than "swear." Herbert Hoover is often listed to have used "affirm" as well, owing to his being a Quaker, but a newsreel taken of the ceremony indicates that the words used were "solemnly swear." Richard Nixon, who was also a Quaker, swore, rather than affirmed."

 

[CrimeDawg123]

I created a thread for Joshua Brown: TX - Josuhua Brown (witness in Amber Guyger trial), 36, shot and killed, Dallas, 4 Oct 2019

 

[BeachSky]

‘Subtle Mammying Going On’: Black Officer Stroking Amber Guyger’s Hair During Murder Conviction is Ruthlessly Criticized
Respectfully snipped

]

I thought someone explained this already. That AGs hair had to be checked for self harm objects before taken back into confined custody. IMO if one watches the video it makes sense because the officer goes around AGs entire head, touching the hair from the top to the bottom.

MOO

 

[Seattle1]

S. Lee Merritt, Esq. on Twitter
"I just spoke with Joshua Browns mother. She is devastated. We all are. Joshua Brown was key witness in the murder of Botham Jean that helped put Amber Guyger away. We need answers."
-- S. Lee Merritt
View attachment 207829

I disagree that JB was a key witness that helped "put Amber Guyger away." In fact, JB testified that he heard voices between BJ and AG before shots fired -- giving credence to AG's testimony that she gave commands to BJ. JB was yet another resident that also testified he'd gone to wrong apartment (floor) before.

It's indeed tragic that another young man lost his life last night but I don't believe Mr. Merritt or anybody else should be so quick to associate his death with the trial of AG.

Reviews of Atera apartments where shooting occurred cite increased crime at this complex including armed robbery of resident in the parking lot at 6pm.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/atera-apartments-dallas-2

Atera Apartments Apartments - Dallas, TX | Apartments.com

 

[Seattle1]

I thought someone explained this already. That AGs hair had to be checked for self harm objects before taken back into confined custody. IMO if one watches the video it makes sense because the officer goes around AGs entire head, touching the hair from the top to the bottom.

MOO

In all my years of trial watch, I've never seen a defendant "frisked" in open court. It is protocol to search defendants taken into custody after conviction but again -- I've never seen this occur in court immediately upon delivery of verdict.

 

[BellaVita]

here we can 'affirm' instead of 'swearing on a bible'
not sure if they have that option in the U.S.?

Yes, people can "affirm" here. If someone wants to know what the local procedures are for that, they can just ask a clerk. Not all jurisdictions work the same. The Quakers (a religious denomination) for example do not believe in taking oaths or swearing. And Quakers most definitely believe in the Bible.
The Quaker Exemption and Religious Liberty Today
Good analysis here. IMO.

 

[kittythehare]

Botham Jean's neighbor, a key witness in Amber Guyger trial, shot to death in Dallas
THIS

Dallas County prosecutor Jason Hermus, the lead prosecutor in the Guyger case, said Saturday that Brown stood up at a time when others won't say what they know.


"He bravely came forward to testify when others wouldn't, " Hermus said. "If we had more people like him we would have a better world."

 

[BellaVita]

In all my years of trial watch, I've never seen a defendant "frisked" in open court. It is protocol to search defendants taken into custody after conviction but again -- I've never seen this occur in court immediately upon delivery of verdict.

I wonder if it was because of Amber's emotional state. Better safe than sorry. Here is a story about a defendant committing suicide in the court room.
Michael Marin - Wikipedia