Roommates, we are sending our prayers to the family of 26-year-old Botham Shem Jean, who was fatally shot in his own apartment after an officer returning home from her shift, entered the wrong apartment.
According to NBC News, the incident took place late Thursday night after the officer entered the wrong apartment in her building and eventually opened fire. In a statement released by Dallas police, information suggests the officer involved called for help and told the responding officers “she entered the victim’s apartment believing that it was her own.”
Allie Jean, the victim’s mother said, “Somebody has to be crazy not to realize that they walked into the wrong apartment. He’s a bachelor. Things are different inside.”
She continued, “And if you try your key and it doesn’t work, that should make you realize you’re at the wrong apartment. Every door for each apartment is also numbered.”
Police say the officer was in full uniform and “fired her weapon striking the victim.” Jean was taken to the hospital where he passed away.
The officer was not immediately identified and was being placed on administrative leave during the investigation.
During a press conference on Friday, Dallas police Sgt. Warren Mitchell said, “They had yet to interview the officer and would not speculate as to whether she mistakenly entered another apartment and believed the man already inside was an intruder.”
Jean, who is a native of St. Lucia, graduated from Harding University in Arkansas in 2016. He remained in the states after getting an internship at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dallas, where he worked in the risk assurance department.
We send our condolences to the family during this difficult time.
