Attorney For Fired Dallas Officer Says Chief 'Bowed To Pressure From Anti-Police Groups'
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - An attorney for Amber Guyger, who was fired by the Dallas Police Chief on Monday for the September 6 shooting death of an unarmed man in his apartment she mistook for her own, responded to the firing with a statement Monday night.
Attorney Robert Rodgers said Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall "bowed to pressure from anti-police groups."
Here is the complete statement:
"What happened on September 6th was a tragic mistake and words can never express our sorrow for the pain being suffered by those who knew and loved Botham Jean. Amber Guyger is completely devastated by what happened. Unfortunately today Chief Hall bowed to pressure from anti-police groups and took action before all the facts had been gathered and due process was afforded. That's not the way our system of justice should work. It is important for all parties and the integrity of the justice system that a full and fair investigation be allowed to reach its conclusion before decisions such as this are made."
On the day after the shooting, Chief Hall said her department was seeking manslaughter charges against Guyger, a four-year veteran of the police force. But Hall said the Texas Rangers asked her department to hold off because they had learned new information and wanted to investigate further before a warrant was issued.
Hall called Jean's parents and their attorneys on Sunday to discuss Guyger's termination. She explained why it took so long to fire Guyger. Hall explained that a premature administrative suspension could have possibly implicated Guyger's fifth amendment protections and compromised the criminal prosecution.
The Jean family expressed satisfaction in this explanation, according to a release and in Guyger's termination. They said they saw it as an initial victory— well received on the day Botham Jean is laid to rest in his native country in St. Lucia. However, their attorneys said they're committed to seeing through the next steps of the process of a proper murder indictment, conviction and appropriate sentencing. Additionally, the Merrit Law Firm is conducting a parallel investigation into the case as they prepare a 1983 civil rights action against Guyger and the City of Dallas for the wrongful death of Botham Jean, according to a release from the firm.
The Jean family attorneys released the following statement Monday in regards to the termination of Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger, the officer who has been charged with manslaughter in the shooting of Botham Jean:
"As Botham Shem Jean's family has his homegoing service in St. Lucia this week, this announcement of Amber Guyger's termination from the Dallas Police Department is bittersweet for Botham's family. While nothing can bring him back, DPD's firing of Guyger is the first step towards justice for Botham Shem Jean."
