This article discusses the shooting of Botham Jean in his own home by officer Amber Guyger. Mr. Jean liver above her and after entering his apartment she fired at him twice. She was originally put on administrative leave by the chief of police. There were complications to her complete release because there had to be more specific details in the case and they didn't want her firing to influence the investigation. Finally after the primary part of the investigation was over officer Guyger was released. The chief stands by her actions as citizens rally behind Botham.
I personally have been seeing significantly less racially pivotal shooting investigations, such as Stephon Clark's death, recently, probably mostly due to the pot of pasta water known as politics constantly boiling over. This article was thankfully written from a purely factual point of view for the common person. It was short and to the point, which I really enjoyed, because I felt like I had a good enough grasp on what had happened without having to spend too much time reading it. I think this is especially important because I know a lot of people, including myself that don't like to read and therefore don't keep up with the news, because it takes too long. This article took that issue away. I know this issue was very prominently talked about just a little while ago, but it is important to continue to discuss incidents like this until they go away. Whether the officer is guilty of shooting the man without a good cause is partially beside the point because racial discrimination shouldn't even be near the table of possibilities for shooting a man, and the fact that it is a massive concern for our country.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/24/us/amber-guyger-fired-botham-jean.html
I heard recently on the news that the police department was considering firing Officer Guyger (or already did I can’t remember), but I don’t think that it’s right to fire her if they are not yet sure that the incident was an accident. As far as the possible racism goes, I of course think it’s a possibility, but if she truly thought that someone was in her home, it wouldn’t have mattered their race.
ReplyDelete-Ryan Mecca
I am so conflicted when hearing about stories like this. It is true that minorities are treated worse by the police, but it is unfair to assume that every case involving a minority victim is based on their skin color. We do not know if she would have shot the man if he was a different race, but the fact that that is a factor that we even have to consider is tragic.
ReplyDelete-Neha Dhanekula
I agree, I think it's terrible knowing that racial discrimination is a reason this man got shot.
ReplyDeleteits ridiculous how she thought that the apartment was hers like did she not notice that it was in a different location and the furniture waas different?? she really thought she could get away with it?? And even if she did "make a mistake", your actions have concequences.
ReplyDeleteI heard someone say that it is possible she could've gotten tunnel vision when she saw him in what she thought was her apartment which is why she didnt take time to asses the room. Whether or not that is the case, i do believe she shouldn't have shot on sight. It is important to question if she still would have shot if she saw a white man.
ReplyDeleteWhether this was an accident or not, I'm thankful that she was fired. In fact I wish that she had remained in jail. It doesn't matter if she was confused or not. She killed a man in his own home! There is an abundance of evidence that proves that her story is invalid. Think about this- if the roles were reversed and a black man walked into what he believed to be his home and shot a white woman, there would be absolutely no hesitation in his arrest.
ReplyDeleteIts terrible knowing that her very first instinct was to shoot. She didn't take a moment to asses the situation, she just shot and killed him.
ReplyDeleteWeapons such as guns should not be used at such leisure. Whether it was an accident or not, no police officer should EVER use their guns without establishing that they truly need it. Also, a mistake is when you forget something at home or when you accidentally didnt finish your homework, not when you kill a man.
ReplyDeleteI just want to know when the streets are not violent and that racism will not be brought up as a reason or cause of a shooting.
ReplyDelete-Isabella Sanders
Weird how police aren’t really trained to not shoot as their first instinct, yes it might have just been a reflex, but it really does make it seem like this action was motivated by racism. -Emma Hancock
ReplyDeleteI think it's pretty scary that this police officer is so trigger-happy. Whether it was an accident or not, the first instinct to shoot without knowing if that action is actually necessary.
ReplyDelete-Mary Kate Madden