TX - Joshua Brown, 27, (witness in Amber Guyger trial), shot and killed, Dallas, 4 Oct 2019

[BellaVita]

This tells me why Meritt is involved in Browns shooting. I see another lawsuit for him. Meritt said "If he (brown) had concerns for his safety, then the city, county had an obligation to ensure those concerns were met"

Ha! Is government supposed to personally take care of every victim? It's not doable. What about domestic violence victims? Have a police car sit in front of every home? Sometimes, in a small town, extra patrols are made if LE is aware of ongoing fears for safety but that's all. Yeah, that's where Merritt wants to go. I think you are right. IMO.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Working for the parents to sue the city, the DPD and anyone else he can make a buck off of, perhaps? MOO

On what grounds?

 

[Aydrianna523]

Since when does a murder victim need a lawyer?

I think always. If the victim is not a survivor...for the family.

 

[kittythehare]

TV Interview with Judge Tammy Kemp

Judge Tammy Kemp To Amber Guyger After Sentencing: 'Botham Has Forgiven You, Please Forgive Yourself'

 

[Kakidoll]

On what grounds?

He started in one article that he should have had protection after testifying..... He's reaching imo

 

[Mm9701]

IMO Merritt has inserted himself and all his theories on Social media so he can spearhead another civil suit. Its all about HIM... not JB, not Bo, just MERRITT. He's a disgrace as an attorney continuing to put out swill without verifying anything. Even the latest articles..... Civil suit and how JB was going to be his strongest witness. Best thing JB's family can do is get rid of this guy. IMO, MOO, IMHO etc....

Agree, but also believe this "revenge hit" notion is being discussed on thread because it's being promoted by Attorney Merritt (representing JB and BR families) who continues to do exactly this: cite JB's death was by DPD in revenge -- while also stating he has NO evidence of this, other than timing.

This same attorney is issuing statements as fact to MSM, with no evidence, and his speculation only.

More recently - Merritt began citing today that JB was to be a witness in the wrongful death suit he filed against City of Dallas for BR family -- and also why JB killed by DPD. Merritt laments JB was not offered protection after AG trial -- yet this was also his witness, and apparently he didn't offer JB protection either.

Other than it does not fit Merritt's narrative, I don't understand why this attorney is not providing the facts from Nov 2018 shooting, where JB wounded --that may in-fact help apprehend other possible suspect(s) that shot JB dead Friday night at his apartment parking lot.

Last November it was reported that 3 men were celebrating a birthday at several Dallas clubs. The three men were identified as N Diggs (victim), K Morris (accomplice charged with murder), and unnamed suspect (alleged shooter suspect that killed Diggs, and wounded Joshua Brown).

Reportedly, JB was not part of the birthday celebration. While at one of the clubs, the group ran into Brown, who also went to the strip club on Walnut Ridge (where shooting occurred).

Also reported that alleged shooter and JB were in a street fight outside the club, and when JB and friends attempted to leave, the murder accomplice (charged and released on $250K bond) handed the shooter a gun, and victim shot dead, and JB wounded.

Reading between the lines, I'd say that victim, murder accomplice, and shooter were likely known to each other-- given they were celebrating birthday together earlier that evening.

I think there's an equal chance that JB also knew his shooters identity. It appears to me that both the murder accomplice and JB elected to remain silent on the identity of the shooter.

Reportedly, the murder accomplice has two court hearings later this month Oct 2019. I think it's possible JB's killer(s) took advantage of current narrative of blaming DBP for his death.

The above are facts from the arrest warrant affidavit that Attorney Merritt conveniently leaves out of his statements to the press.

One really has to ask -- why Merritt isn't helping apprehend and question other possible suspects that shot JB?

Merritt obviously given a large platform -- please help JB! He's the true victim here.

MOO

Man arrested in fatal shooting outside Dallas strip club after Thanksgiving

Amber Guyger witness Joshua Brown was due to testify in lawsuit | Daily Mail Online

ETA: Just read upthread that (per Merritt), JB was being blamed for N Diggs death. Perhaps others believe N Diggs was collateral damage -- bullet intended for JB, and he escaped with wound.

Wow....Merritt’s story has grown wings, seemingly overnight! I didn’t realize what people really say about him, and this is the first experience where I’ve seen him coming in from the beginning, trying to create a case for himself. For the love of God, I hope that JB’s family can distance themselves from him.

And pardon me for the dumb question, but does Merritt represent whites, Hispanics, or other races besides blacks people? He has dubbed himself “the people’s lawyer”, but I have never seen him with a diverse clientele. Isn’t he (in some ways) doing the very thing he accuses the police of doing by focusing only on one group? I volunteer to help people whose housing rights have been violated, and I help all protected classes, regardless of race.

But I digress. I’m surprised we haven’t heard more verified details about what happened to JB. I keep checking the news to see there’s been an arrest, so there is safety and peace for his family.

 

[Hope4More]

BTW, about Merritt. His public statements after Brown's murder, many based on conjecture, not facts, has been unhelpful at best, irresponsible at worst.

Without his initial involvement & putting pressure on LE, though, it's unlikely Guyger would have been charged with murder. She should have been. It was a rightful charge and a rightful conviction.

And it's also plain that Botham Jean's family are fine with Merritt and what he has already done for them.

 

[kittythehare]

BTW, about Merritt. His public statements after Brown's murder, many based on conjecture, not facts, has been unhelpful at best, irresponsible at worst.

Without his initial involvement & putting pressure on LE, though, it's unlikely Guyger would have been charged with murder. She should have been. It was a rightful charge and a rightful conviction.

And it's also plain that Botham Jean's family are fine with Merritt and what he has already done for them.

They are unlikely to be fine with the fresh backlash they have received from Merritts disciples though
and it's possible they told him so because yesterday he launched a tirade on the lack of unity and named them .

 

[kittythehare]

Judge Tammy Kemp To Amber Guyger After Sentencing: 'Botham Has Forgiven You, Please Forgive Yourself'
mountain View Unit , west of waco is where Amber Guyger has been transferred.. news report shows her new mugshot.
It's on the cbs link above but it's not a direct link to the story, just came in on tail end of other news

 

[CrimeDawg123]

He started in one article that he should have had protection after testifying..... He's reaching imo

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous IMO. No one else had protection, did they.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

I think always. If the victim is not a survivor...for the family.

If I had a family member murdered, I think the last thing I'd be worrying about is lawyering up.

 

[Hope4More]

Just fyi, Merritt is not licensed to practice law in Texas. He does show up whenever there is the potential for a race associated incident. He can do federal cases in Texas, but he often doesn't actually represent his clients as an attorney, but as a "consultant."

I've learned to take everything he says with a grain of salt until I see hard evidence to back up "the facts" he puts forth.

He isn't licensed to practice state law in Texas. Doesn't need to be for the work he does. Civil rights cases = federal court.

He IS licensed to practice in two states: PA & NJ. Not too shabby.

 

[kittythehare]

more recent article on Amber's new home
New Texas prison program aims to help women leave the system with jobs waiting for them
These will be her new friends
Mountain View Unit | Texas Prison Inmates | The Texas Tribune

this a 2009 link describing life inside What is life like inside Mountain view prison for women?

Mountain View Unit - Gatesville, Texas - Landmark & Historical Place, Prison & Correctional Facility | Facebook
edited to change last link, had accidentally linked to male unit

 

[Seattle1]

On what grounds?

Botham Jean’s wrongful death lawsuit still pending against Dallas

DALLAS - With the criminal trial over, Botham Jean’s family now looks to a civil lawsuit against the city of Dallas. Jean’s family filed the lawsuit last year for wrongful death and civil rights violations.

They claim the Dallas Police Department failed to adequately train former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, who claimed she shot Jean because she thought he was an intruder when she went into the wrong apartment.

The suit alleges bias and a cover-up by the department and investigators. It seeks damages for the pain and suffering by Jean in the moments leading up to his death, and for his parents.

Dallas likely won't be held liable in lawsuit over Guyger case, attorneys say

The complaint argued that city policy was responsible for the wrongful death because Guyger acted and behaved as a police officer, in uniform with her service weapon. The plaintiffs also alleged that DPD has a pattern of using excessive force against minorities and didn't provide Guyger with adequate training.

ETA:

In August -- a magistrate Judge already recommended dismissing claims against the city.

If the case thrown out of Federal Court -- the state statute "really saves the city on this" and makes it very unlikely that the plaintiffs could hold the city liable under state law if a federal lawsuit were to be dismissed. [According to Casey Wallace, a former Harris County attorney who has defended law enforcement against similar cases].

 

[Seattle1]

Without his initial involvement & putting pressure on LE, though, it's unlikely Guyger would have been charged with murder. She should have been. It was a rightful charge and a rightful conviction.

^^SBM

Disagree that Merritt's initial involvement, and resultant pressure on LE resulted in murder charge against AG. She was initially charged with manslaughter.

It was the grand jury that indicted AG on higher charge of murder, and the grand jury is not pressured by anybody.

And yes, it was a rightful conviction. MOO

 

[kittythehare]

https...N01XU8=s85
mugshot

 

[Momof4RN]

"Josh Brown expressed concerns about the exposure he would get from this trial and expressed concerns for his safety," Merritt told the Today show.

"A lot of people believe, including himself, apparently, that he was the target of that shooting, and he was afraid somebody might come and try to finish the job," Merritt said in an interview with Black America Web.

Merritt, who did not respond to NPR's requests for an interview, is calling for an outside law enforcement agency like the county's sheriff's department or federal investigators to take over the probe of Brown's death.

"Whether they like it or not, the Dallas Police Department is implicated in this," he said.

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund is also asking for an independent investigation into Brown's death, calling the killing "deeply alarming and highly suspicious."

"The circumstances surrounding the murder of Mr. Brown cries out for answers. Most importantly, it demands an independent investigation of how and why he was killed," said Sherrilyn Ifill, the Legal Defense Fund's president and director-counsel.

"We urge state or federal authorities to follow the trail of misconduct left by this case and fully investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr. Brown's death," Ifill said.

The police department said in response that it had no comment.

'I Just Hope They Figure It Out,' Says Father Of Key Guyger Trial Witness Found Dead

I’m trying to understand this. Merritt now says he believes JB was the target of last years shooting and JB lived in fear of someone coming to finish the job. But he wants an independent investigation because DPD is implicated. How? What does DPD have to do with with JB being shot last year?
Did JB at anytime express fear that DPD would retaliate? I’m not hearing that. I’m hearing his fear (before, during, and after the trial) was from the men who already tried to kill him once. MOO
What trail of misconduct was left?

 

[grammieto5]

I have no issues with Judge Kemp, but no one knows how Bothem Jean feels. The judge cannot say he forgives AG.

 

[Artis]

Amber Guyger trial is blocking all older search results. I tried a search without his name and cannot find a 'Dallas police issue description of man wanted for murder december 2018.'

Maybe try using the dead victim's name in your searches.

 

[kittythehare]

@Momof4RN
Think he means that DPD exposed him to Digg's mates and it was only a matter of time.
They wanted to kill him the first time... the fighter aka 2nd person was thrown the gun, probably to 'finish him off' in the street fight... It's possible Joshua went to kick the gun out of his hand, blinded him temporarily and he shot his bestie... they wouldn't be forgetting that very quickly.
Then suddenly he's on every TV in town and his address announced publicly, it would only have been a matter of time.
That is pure speculation on my part in an attempt to hazard a guess at an answer to your question.
I believe Joshua would have informed DPD and they would also have checked it out themselves that he was putting himself at risk of exposure.. was last November, still very fresh..
I think he could be saying that certain security measures should have been taken to protect him from a possible or likely fallout.
And they may actually have a point with that.