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DALLAS (Oct. 1, 2026) –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and co-counsel Antonio Romanucci, who represented the family of Botham Jean in their federal civil rights lawsuit, responded Thursday to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles’ decision to grant parole to former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger. Guyger was convicted of murder in 2019 for fatally shooting 26-year-old Jean in his own apartment on Sept. 6, 2018.
Guyger, who was off duty but still in uniform, entered Jean’s apartment after mistaking it for her own, which was located one floor below. Jean was sitting in his home eating ice cream when Guyger shot him. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was denied parole in 2024, her first year of eligibility.
Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci released the following statement:
“The decision to grant Amber Guyger parole after just seven years in prison reopens a wound the Jean family has carried since 2018. Botham Jean was an innocent man whose life was tragically taken in his own home. His family has been left to endure a lifetime of grief, and this decision only deepens the pain of a loss that can never be undone.
“While the parole board has made its decision, we cannot ignore the troubling message this sends about accountability when a law enforcement officer takes an innocent life. Botham deserved the opportunity to live a full life, and that opportunity was taken from him by a police officer who was sworn to protect the public. We will continue to honor Botham’s legacy by demanding a justice system that values Black lives and holds law enforcement officers fully accountable for their actions.”
