Yesterday, on October 1, 2019, Amber Guyger was found guilty of murder. She is a former Dallas police officer who fatally shot her neighbor, Bothem Jean in his apartment while she was off duty, but still in uniform. Guyger claims she went to Jean’s apartment mistaking it for hers and thought he was a burglar. Guyger lived a floor below Jean in the same building. Apparently though, the jury did not buy her story and held her fully accountable with murder charges.
Guyger faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. She has been out on a $300,000 bond and was not immediately taken into custody after the verdict. She is facing a sentence of anywhere from five to 99 years behind bars. Deliberations are set to begin today, Wednesday, October 2.
This case, along with the verdict itself, has sparked a worldwide discussion about the way the justice system in the United States handles police officers who are accused of crimes. Followers of the story stormed to social media to share their opinions. To some, this signals a positive change in the fight for racial justice in this country, especially as it relates to police brutality. For others, they believe justice has still not been served to the Black community because this type verdict is so rare for a police officer to receive, and it’s too little, too late, as Jean has already lost his life, his family destroyed by the loss.
During the trial, jurors were able to read some suggestive text messages sent out by Guyger in the past. On September 4, 2018, the same month as the murder, someone suggested that Guyger adobe a German Shepherd. The dog’s owner said the dog “may be racist” to which Guyger replied “It’s okay.. I’m the same.” I hate everything and everyone but y’all,” she sent later in the same message thread. Prosecutors also presented messages where Guyger made light of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death, and suggested to her ex-lover to spray his pepper spray at a crowd peacefully gathered to celebrate the birthday of the late Civil Rights leader.
Amber Guyger took the stand in her own defense. She put on an extremely emotional display, to the point of having to be stopped because she was crying so much that people could not understand what she was saying. Her performance incited wide outrage on social media. Some Twitter users accused her of putting on a terrible acting job, while others wondered why police officers are never prepared to receive punishment like any other citizen who commits a heinous act.
Regardless of what anyone on social media has to say, Amber Guyger is going to prison. It is now up to today’s jury to decide when, and for how long. In my opinion, Guyger should get the maximum sentence possible. She has a history of racism and utilized lethal force where it absolutely was not necessary. If she gets the maximum sentence, it will send a message to all police officers in the United States that their racist actions will no longer go unpunished, and that their cries of “fearing for their life” will begin to, more and more, fall on deaf ears.
Around The Way with Alexsis 