Ocasio-Cortez demands authorities ‘get to the bottom’ of Joshua Brown’s murder

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) took to Twitter on Sunday to call for authorities to “get to the bottom” of Joshua Brown’s murder, days after the key witness in the murder trial of former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was shot to death.

“Just when we caught a glimpse of justice for Botham Jean, much of it feels stolen back with the murder of Joshua Brown, a key witness in the case,” she tweeted. “My heart breaks for his family and for everyone touched by this tragedy. We must get to the bottom of this injustice.”

Just when we caught a glimpse of justice for Botham Jean, much of it feels stolen back with the murder of Joshua Brown, a key witness in the case.

My heart breaks for his family and for everyone touched by this tragedy. We must get to the bottom of this injustice. https://t.co/2ik9EhvSeh

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 6, 2019

A number of lawmakers also took to Twitter demanding answers after Brown’s death.

Joshua Brown’s selflessness and courage brought some justice for his neighbor Botham Jean. We grieve again learning of Joshua’s murder.

I pray for his family, his community, and all those impacted by this tragedy.

We demand answers.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 6, 2019

Joshua Brown bravely stood up to injustice and helped put Amber Guyger behind bars. Three days later, he was murdered by an unknown assailant.

We grieve with his family and friends, and demand a transparent investigation the people of Dallas can trust. https://t.co/fnIF0tNCMF

— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) October 6, 2019

Local police discovered Brown lying on the ground outside an apartment complex with multiple gunshot wounds on Friday night. Witnesses said they saw a white sedan fleeing the scene shortly after hearing gunshots.

His death occurred several days after Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of Botham Jean, a black man she shot to death last year after entering his apartment. 

Guyger claimed she accidentally entered Jean’s apartment after mistaking it for her own. Having been convicted of murder, Guyger faced up to 99 years in prison for Jean’s death. She will be eligible for parole in five years.

Brown lived in the apartment across the hall from Jean and was at home the night Guyger fatally shot him. 

{mosads}He testified last month that he met Jean on Sept. 6, 2018, the same day he was shot. However, he said he would hear gospel music and Drake coming from Jean’s unit at times, according to a local NBC affiliate.

He also said during the trial that he was down the hall on the day of the shooting when he heard what sounded like two people meeting by “surprise” shortly before he heard gunshots, CNN reported.

Lee Merritt, an attorney who represented Jean’s family in the case, said in a Facebook post that he “learned from the medical examiner that Joshua was shot in his mouth and his chest.”

“He was ambushed at his apartment complex as he got out of his car and shot at close range,” he wrote, adding that Brown’s “mother asked that I do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of his murder.”

“She suspects foul play and it is difficult to rule it out. He had no known enemies. He worked for a living. He was not in the streets. We need answers. Immediately,” Merritt added.