Family of Bothan Jean awarded $100 million (shot by officer Guyer when she entered wrong apt) [View all]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/us/botham-jean-guyger-texas-police-killing-trial.html?unlocked_article_code=1.bk4.Y6-0.0mv81XnrtFSb&smid=url-share

A federal jury on Wednesday awarded nearly $100 million to the family of Botham Shem Jean, a Black man who was eating ice cream and watching television at home in Dallas when he was shot dead by a white police officer six years ago.

Amber R. Guyger, the officer who killed Mr. Jean, used excessive force and violated Mr. Jean’s constitutional rights, the jury concluded. It ordered Ms. Guyger to pay civil penalties to Mr. Jean’s family of $60 million in punitive damages and $38.65 million for their loss and suffering. The civil trial was held in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

The shooting in 2018 set off widespread anger and protests, helping to sharpen focus on the use of violence by law enforcement officers against unarmed Black people in the United States.