An essential witness in the Amber Guyger murder trial was killed Friday night in Dallas, Texas, just days after the former police officer was found guilty of murdering Botham Jean.
Dallas Newsconfirmed Joshua Brown, a neighbor of Botham Jean's and Guyger at the South Side Flats apartments, has died from a fatal shooting. He was 28.
The news came from social media posts by Lee Merritt, the attorney who represented the Jean family: "Joshua Brown, the next door neighbor of #BothamJean was killed last night after being shot several times by an unknown assailant. Local media have began reporting on the shooting but have not confirmed Brown’s identity," Merritt wrote on Facebook. "[...] An ADA has confirmed that it was in fact Brown who was killed although they have yet to identify a suspect or motive for the shooting. The case is now in the hands of the Dallas Police Department."
According to TIME magazine, Joshua Brown lived across the hall from Jean at the time of his September 2018 murder. Brown took the stand during Guyger's trial, delivering an emotional testimony on the events of that tragic day.
The Dallas Police Department has confirmed authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred at around 10:30 p.m. Friday night at 4606 Cedar Spring Rd. The department did not confirm the reports that the victim was Brown, as they have yet to make a positive identification.
"The complainant was found lying on the ground in the apartment parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. Dallas Fire-Rescue responded and transported the complainant to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died from his injuries," the Dallas PD wrote in a statement to Complex. "Several witnesses heard several gunshots and observed a silver four-door sedan leaving the parking lot at a high rate of speed. There is no additional information on the suspect(s) at this time."
"The complainant did not have any ID cards on him therefore, next of kin notification will be pending the ME examination and positive identification. It is important to note that there were no additional victims regarding this shooting call."
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and no one is in custody.
Complex will update this story when more information becomes available.
