Amber Guyger, the police officer who murdered a black neighbor in his home, is released from prison | Texas

The former Dallas police officer who was convicted of murdering Botham Jean after entering his apartment and shooting him in 2018 was released from prison Friday morning after serving seven years in prison.

Amber Guyger, 38, regained her freedom a little more than two weeks after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles approved her release, despite opposition from Jean’s family.

The former officer was sentenced to 10 years in prison following his murder conviction on October 1, 2019. His parole was approved exactly seven years after that verdict.

The case against Guyger gained national attention after she fatally shot Jean, 26, in her own Dallas apartment in September 2018.

At her trial, Guyger argued that she accidentally parked on the fourth floor of the garage of the apartment complex where she and Jean lived. Jean’s apartment was located one floor above his.

Guyger testified that she thought she was entering her own residence when she entered Jean’s apartment. According to her account, she tried to unlock the door with her key when it opened.

She claimed she mistook Jean for a burglar and fired his gun because she feared for her life. Jean was eating ice cream and watching television in his apartment when Guyger entered and shot him.

Guyger was taken into custody three days after the fatal shooting and was later fired from the Dallas Police Department before facing trial.

A jury found her guilty of murder. She faced a possible life sentence. The jurors ultimately sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors had insisted on a minimum of 28, choosing that number to represent the age Jean would have reached at the time.

Guyger first applied for parole in 2024. But the parole board denied his request.

When she became eligible to reapply, the board reversed course and granted her parole, allowing her to complete the remainder of her sentence under supervision.

After the decision granting him parole, Jean’s family released a statement to CBS News Texas expressing their continued grief and requesting privacy.

“Two days ago, Botham Jean’s family lovingly remembered their son and brother and celebrated his life on what would have been his birthday,” it read.

“Today it was reported that Amber Guyger will be released on parole and will serve the remainder of her sentence under supervision. Botham Jean’s family respectfully requests privacy at this time as they process this development and continue to grieve.”

It continued: “To the many well-wishers who continue to speak Botham’s name, honor his life and carry on his memory, the family expresses its sincere gratitude for your continued love and support.”

Although Guyger’s release Friday marks the end of her detention following the 2018 murder, she remains under supervision for the remainder of her sentence.