(NEW YORK DAILY NEWS) — Authorities working to untangle the events leading up to the death of Botham Jean are seeking doorbell camera footage from townhouses near the apartment complex where the 26-year-old accountant was shot and killed by a police officer.
Dallas County Police Officer Amber Guyger told investigators she believed she was in her own South Side Flats apartment unit when she fired off two rounds at Jean, thinking he was an intruder. The door to his apartment, located exactly one floor above Guyger’s, was ajar and the force of her key pushed it all the way open, the officer claimed.
But neighbors have disputed her version of events, alternatively alleging they heard Guyger pounding on the door ahead of the gunfire.
A pair of newly released warrants in the case reveal the Dallas County district attorney’s office has requested records from Ring, a home security company owned by Amazon. A third warrant seeks additional security footage from another company, ADT Security Services.
They specifically target addresses on Archer Place — just across the street from the apartment building where both Guyger and Jean lived — between 8 a.m. and midnight the same day the shooting occurred on Sept. 6.
A resident at one of the addresses, who did not wish to be identified, said investigators were looking for video that shows the inside of Jean and Guyger’s apartments. He told the NBC 5 the view his camera provided was obstructed.
Guyger was still in uniform and fresh off a 15-hour shift when entered the dark fourth-floor apartment and spotted a “large silhouette” coming toward her. She said she gave “verbal commands that were ignored” before she shot and killed Jean. She was arrested three days later and is facing a charge of manslaughter.
Jean’ family and activists together have repeatedly called for the charge be upgraded to murder and that Gugyer, who was placed on administrative leave after the fatal encounter, be fired from the police department.
Dallas County Police Chief U. Renee Hall this week said she has not taken action against Guyger because she does not want to interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation. Having the officer provide a statement during an administrative investigation could “compromise” the criminal probe, she said in a statement.
Both the DA’s office and the Texas Rangers are investigating the officer-involved shooting.
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