Nationwide — Amber Guyger, a former Dallas police officer who was convicted of murdering Botham Jean, has been granted parole after serving seven years of a 10-year prison sentence. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles approved her release on Oct. 1, 2026. Jean’s family confirmed the decision, though Guyger’s exact release date has not yet been announced. Before leaving prison, she will receive her parole conditions and be assigned a parole officer.
The case dates back to Sept. 6, 2018, when Guyger returned to the South Side Flats apartment complex after working a shift that lasted more than 13 hours. She mistakenly went to the fourth floor instead of the third floor, where her apartment was located. Jean lived directly above her. Guyger said she did not realize she was on the wrong floor and entered Jean’s apartment after finding the door partly open. She said she believed someone had broken into her home. She fired two shots at Jean before calling 911. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died.
Guyger was arrested three days later and was fired by the Dallas Police Department 18 days after the shooting. During her 2019 murder trial, her attorneys argued that she had made a mistake and genuinely believed Jean was an intruder inside her apartment. They also relied on self-defense and the Castle Doctrine. Prosecutors challenged that argument, saying her mistake was unreasonable and resulted from extreme carelessness. After roughly six hours of deliberation, the jury rejected the lesser manslaughter charge and found her guilty of murder on Oct. 1, 2019. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison, becoming the first Dallas police officer convicted of murder since 1973. Her appeals were later unsuccessful.
The parole decision is not Guyger’s first request for release. She became eligible for parole in September 2024 after serving about half of her sentence, but the board denied that request. More than 6,000 people, including members of Jean’s family and the Dallas County district attorney, had signed a petition opposing her release. This time, the parole board pointed to her conduct behind bars, saying she had no documented pattern of violence or assaultive arrests or convictions while incarcerated. Officials also cited her satisfactory adjustment to prison and her completion of programs included in her treatment plan, according to Fox 4 News.
Jean’s family had continued to oppose Guyger’s release. Attorney Lee Merritt, who represents the family, said Jean’s loved ones still live with the loss of a man who was killed inside his own home. Pastor Sammie Berry, who knew Jean from his church choir, also questioned whether the parole decision could provide justice for a family that will never get Jean back. Berry said he has forgiven Guyger despite the pain of losing Jean. The Next Generation Action Network also criticized the decision and said it would have a lasting effect on Jean’s family and the Black community.
The parole approval also follows a separate wrongful death case brought by Jean’s family. In November 2024, a civil jury found Guyger liable and awarded the family $98.65 million. Jean was born in Saint Lucia and graduated at the top of his class before moving to the United States to attend Harding University in Arkansas. He later worked as an accountant and served as a worship leader at Dallas West Church of Christ. His family said he hoped to return to Saint Lucia one day and pursue a career in public service. Guyger will remain under parole supervision after her release and will be required to follow the conditions set by the board.