BY: CIARA WELLS
Joshua Brown, 28, a key witness in the murder trial against a former Dallas police officer convicted of shooting Botham Jean, was shot and killed during a drug deal gone wrong according to a protected tweet Assistant Chief Avery Moore of Dallas PD posted on Tuesday.
Amber Guyger, ex-cop who killed unarmed of Botham Jean, in his home on Sept. 6, 2018 was sentenced to 10 years on a conviction of murder. Brown was killed after an argument with one of three men from Louisiana who had met him in Dallas for a drug purchase, Moore told CNN reporters. He was fatally shot at his home in the Atera Apartments, about five miles from the complex where former officer Amber Guyger and their neighbor Botham Jean lived, according to CNN.
A conversation between Brown and two other men, Thaddeous Green and Jacquerious Mitchell escalated and turned into a physical altercation in which Brown allegedly shot and wounded Jacquerious Mitchell, Assistant Chief Moore told CNN. Green took a backpack from Brown as well as the gun used to wound Mitchell, then shot Brown twice. After receiving tips, APD obtained a search warrant and recovered 12 pounds of marijuana, 143 grams of THC cartridges, and $4,000 in cash from Brown's apartment.
Black Twitter broke the internet when the details of Joshua Brown's death was released and posed the question: who would willingly take part in a dangerous drug deal while still in the spotlight of an influential judicial case? Many people believe that the Dallas Police are responsible for the murder of Joshua Brown.
#JoshuaBrown may have been executed—after testifying against #AmberGuyger. A 2nd witness was fired.
— Rev. Cornell William Brooks (@CornellWBrooks) October 7, 2019
Maybe worries about police involvenent are NOT unfounded suspicion,
but historically informed apprehension.
There's a LONG history of crooked cops and witness intimidation. pic.twitter.com/J9jDrbywxx
Moore expressed to CNN that a connection between Brown's death, Amber Guyger's trial and the Dallas Police Department's being responsible are rumors started by community leaders. Moore said in a CNN video. "I assure you that is simply not true. And 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."
Did the Dallas Police retaliate against #JoshuaBrown 2 send a message 2 anyone else who testifies against a Dallas Police Officer? There needs to be a federal investigation. Wonder how #BothamJean's brother feels about degrading himself & embracing his brother's killer now.
— Paula Bradford (@pbrad22) October 8, 2019
"The Dallas NAACP is calling for a prompt, yet full and thorough independent investigation of the murder of Joshua Brown by an outside agency, preferably the Dallas County Sheriff Department or the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, according to The Washington Informer.