2020 Democrats Demand Answers In Botham Jean Witness Death: 'Horrific'
Democratic presidential candidates are demanding answers following the death of a key witness in the trial of Amber Guyger, a white former Dallas police officer convicted of killing an unarmed 26-year-old Black man in his own home.
Joshua Brown, 28, was gunned down on Friday night at South Side Flats, an apartment complex where he was a neighbor to Botham Jean, The Dallas Morning News reported. In September 2018, Guyger shot Jean to death, claiming she entered the wrong unit and mistook him for an intruder. She later pleaded not guilty.
On Wednesday, Guyger, 31, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Now, politicians want to know what happened to Brown.
“I’m heartsick for Joshua Brown’s family and friends,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted Friday. “He bravely stepped forward and testified to bring some justice for Botham Jean, and peace for his family. We need answers ― and Joshua Brown and his family need justice.”
Warren’s message echoed that of California Sen. Kamala Harris, who praised Brown’s “selflessness and courage,” and offered prayers for his family and community.
“We demand answers,” she said.
Joshua Brown’s selflessness and courage brought some justice for his neighbor Botham Jean. We grieve again learning of Joshua’s murder.
I pray for his family, his community, and all those impacted by this tragedy.
We demand answers.— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 6, 2019
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg have also spoken out, disturbed by the second killing.
In his remarks, Castro called for “a transparent investigation the people of Dallas can trust.”
Horrific and deeply troubling. Sending love and prayers to Joshua Brown’s family. They deserve the justice he ensured for Botham, and we all deserve answers immediately.https://t.co/O0AWIciR82
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) October 6, 2019
When Botham Jean was killed in his own home, his neighbor, Joshua Brown, spoke out and ensured his murderer was held accountable. His death, like Botham’s, was a tragedy—only possible because we have failed to end this epidemic of gun violence. Sending love to his family. https://t.co/PyrGDyJGe4
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) October 6, 2019
Joshua Brown bravely stood up to injustice and helped put Amber Guyger behind bars. Three days later, he was murdered by an unknown assailant.
We grieve with his family and friends, and demand a transparent investigation the people of Dallas can trust. https://t.co/fnIF0tNCMF— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) October 6, 2019
Joshua Brown's tragic death, just days after courageously testifying against Amber Guyger in the shooting death of Botham Jean, is horrifying. I stand with his family and activists in Dallas to demand answers on how this happened #blacklivesmatter
— Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) October 6, 2019
Joshua Brown showed us what real courage looks like. Now we must show him and his family what real justice looks like. His murder must be investigated. We deserve answers.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) October 7, 2019
During Guyger’s trial, she claimed that upon seeing Jean, she said, “Let me see your hands” before she shot him. However, Brown, who lived across the hall, testified that he did not hear her say any such commands, instead describing the sound as “two people meeting by surprise,” according to the Morning News.
Jean’s death sparked outrage as yet another example of lethal use of force by law enforcement on a person of color.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Lee Merrit, the lawyer for Jean’s family, said the slaying of Brown “underscores the reality of the black experience in America.”
“A former athlete turned entrepreneur ― Brown lived in constant fear that he could be the next victim of gun violence, either state sanctioned or otherwise,” he wrote. “We have more work to do deal with the constant threats to our community both from within and without. Brown deserves the same justice he sought to ensure the Jean family. The Dallas County criminal justice system must [be] mobilized to identify his killer and see that he is held accountable for this murder.”
This article has been updated with Buttigieg’s statement.
CORRECTION: This article initially referred to Booker as a senator from New York. He represents New Jersey.
Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.