1 arrested, 2 sought in murder of cop witness

One suspect was in custody and arrest warrants were issued Wednesday for two more in the death of Joshua Brown, a key witness in the murder trial of former officer Amber Guyger, who was convicted of killing a neighbor in his own apartment, Dallas police said.

Deputy Police Chief Avery Moore said Brown was killed in a drug deal that devolved into a gunbattle. Brown was found shot to death in a parking lot Friday, two days after Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the September 2018 fatal shooting of Botham Jean. The accountant was eating ice cream in an apartment Guyger mistook for her own.

Moore said the man in custody, Jacquerious Mitchell, told authorities he, his uncle Michael Mitchell and Thaddeous Green had gone to Dallas from Louisiana to buy drugs from Brown. An argument ensued, however, and Jacquerious Mitchell told authorities he was shot by Brown.

One of the other men then shot Brown, Moore said. Those men fled the scene, and a manhunt was underway for their capture, Moore said. Jacquerious Mitchell was in critical condition in a Dallas hospital, police said.

Moore said 12 pounds of marijuana, other drugs and $ 4,000 were seized from Brown’s apartment.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and some community leaders in recent days had called for an independent investigation into Brown’s death and the Dallas police department. Moore said some had suggested police were somehow involved.

“I assure you that is simply not true,” Moore said. “I encourage those leaders to be mindful of their actions moving forward because their words have jeopardized the integrity of the city of Dallas as well as the Dallas Police Department.”

Brown’s testimony was crucial because he lived on the same floor as Guyger and heard them talking – but said he did not hear Guyger shout verbal commands or warnings before shooting Jean.

Sherrilyn Ifill, the defense fund’s president, said Monday that it is critical to public confidence in the criminal justice system that witnesses who speak out against police violence are fully protected.

“The circumstances surrounding the murder of Mr. Brown cries out for answers,” Ifill said.