Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was ordered by a federal jury to pay nearly $100 million to the family of Botham Jean, a Black man she fatally shot in his apartment in 2018. Guyger, who is serving a 10-year sentence for murder, mistakenly entered Jean’s apartment, thinking he was an intruder, and shot him. The jury found that Guyger had used excessive force and acted under the color of law, awarding Jean’s estate and his parents $98.6 million, including $60 million in punitive damages. The family’s attorney, Daryl Washington, stated that the verdict sends a message against police brutality and may help save lives by making officers think twice before using deadly force.
This verdict comes amid a record year for police killings in the U.S., with 1,059 fatalities reported in 2024. The Mapping Police Violence project has documented a racial disparity in police violence, noting that Black Americans accounted for a disproportionate number of those killed by law enforcement. The lawsuit filed by Jean’s family accused Guyger of shooting him without lawful justification and criticized the lack of accountability from the Dallas Police Department and City Council.
The family seeks police accountability and reform, highlighting the need for changes in policies and training to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. Washington emphasized the importance of holding the city and police department responsible for their role in the shooting and called for systemic reform to address issues of police violence and discriminatory practices.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com