Crowds Protest Sentence Of Officer Convicted of Killing Neighbor

  • The Grand Rapids Times
  • October 4th, 2019
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DALLAS (AP) — The Latest on the trial of a former Dallas police officer convicted of murder in the shooting death of her neighbor inside his apartment (all times local): 10:15 p.m. Dozens of protesters marched through parts of downtown Dallas to protest the 10-year sentence given to a white former police officer convicted of murder in the shooting death of her black neighbor.

The demonstrators Wednesday night sometimes blocked traffic on heavily traveled streets outside the courts building where Amber Guyger was sentenced and through the western section of downtown. One woman was taken into custody after it appeared she didn't follow police orders to clear the street and move to the sidewalk.

Guyger, who was convicted of murder Tuesday, said she mistook Botham Jean's apartment for hers and thought he was an intruder before shooting him in September 2018. About 30 protesters chanted "No justice, no peace; no racist police" and "Amber alert!" as they marched through the streets surrounded by up to a dozen police officers, some in riot gear. Around 20 other demonstrators remained outside the courts building and jail. As a police helicopter circled overhead, officers tried to keep the marchers on the sidewalks and out of the paths of cars.