Family says man shot by officer being disparaged

DALLAS — Attorneys for the family of a black man who was killed in his own apartment by a white police officer accused Dallas officials of trying to “assassinate his character” by releasing a report saying that authorities found marijuana in the victim’s apartment.

At a news conference Friday, the lawyers also called for the firing of police Officer Amber Guyger, who gunned down 26-year-old Botham Jean in his own apartment on Sept. 6.

She has been booked on a preliminary charge of manslaughter and is free on bond.

Guyger told investigators she mistook Jean’s apartment for her own, which is right below his, and that upon entering the dark home, she believed she had encountered an intruder and shot him when he didn’t obey her verbal commands.

Lee Merritt, one of the Jean family attorneys, said Friday that investigators wasted no time in digging for dirt they could use to smear Jean’s name.

Within hours of Jean being shot, they asked a judge for a warrant to search his home for drugs, among other things.

Dallas police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the criticism.

Jean’s mother, Allison Jean, expressed disgust that on Thursday, as mourners at her son’s funeral were remembering him for his religious convictions and kindness, the results of that search of his home were released.

They showed that, among the things, police found a small amount of marijuana — 10.4 grams — and a marijuana grinder.

“To have my son smeared in such a way, I think shows that there [are people] who are really nasty, who are really dirty and are going to cover up for the devil Amber Guyger,” she said.