Dallas Police Officer Shot Man in His Apartment After He Didn't Follow ‘Verbal Commands’

Officials probing the death of 26-year-old Botham Jean, who was shot and killed in his own apartment by an off-duty Dallas police officer, said that the Jean did not respond to “verbal commands” from the officer. The Associated Press reports that Texas Ranger David Armstrong wrote in an arrest affidavit that Jean failed to respond to Officer Amber Guyger when she entered the dark apartment that she mistakenly thought was hers. Guyger allegedly thought that Jean was an intruder, and shot twice in his direction after he did not respond. One shot hit his chest, resulting in his death. Officials also said that Guyger entered the apartment because the door was “slightly ajar.” Guyger was reportedly on the phone with emergency responders to report the shooting when she turned on the light and realized she was not in her apartment. Jean's apartment and exterior layout was “nearly identical” to Guyger's, as Guyger's apartment was on the floor directly above. Botham Jean's mother in a news conference Monday remarked that she had a lot of questions but “has been told there are no answers yet,” like why it took so long for Guyger to get arrested and why Guyger used such deadly force.