Dallas police chief: Officer who fatally shot neighbor in his apartment to be charged soon

Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall said Saturday that the officer who said she fatally shot her neighbor after entering his home will be charged soon.

Hall said the Texas Rangers have asked Dallas police to delay acquiring a warrant to arrest the officer in order to investigate further, WFAA-TV reported.

“The ball is in their court,” Hall said during a panel on Saturday. “They are the lead in this investigation.”

{mosads}Hall said the Rangers have interviewed the officer, who had previously been interviewed at the scene of the shooting.

The officer, who is white, said she entered her neighbor’s home by mistake and shot her neighbor, Botham Jean, who is black, because she believed him to be an intruder in her apartment.

Dallas police were in the process of issuing a warrant for the officer’s arrest on Friday.

“We were dealing with what appears to be a very unique situation,” Hall said at a Friday news conference. “Right now, there are more questions than we have answers.”

Jean, who was 26, was pronounced dead Thursday night at a Dallas hospital.

His death prompted calls for justice on social media, including from Women’s March organizer Linda Sarsour.

“Dallas cop mistakes someone’s else apartment for hers and shoots the tenant DEAD. Yes, a true story that took an innocent, young Black man’s life. Black people aren’t even safe in the privacy of their homes. Enraging. Unacceptable. Get LOUD,” she tweeted.

Dallas cop mistakes someone’s else apartment for hers and shoots the tenant DEAD. Yes, a true story that took an innocent, young Black man’s life. Black people aren’t even safe in the privacy of their homes. Enraging. Unacceptable. Get LOUD. #BlackLivesMatter #BothamShemJean pic.twitter.com/8WuUjYQr3E

— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) September 7, 2018

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings (D) offered his condolences Saturday for Jean’s death, calling the 26-year-old a potential future leader of the city.

“Botham Jean was exactly the sort of citizen we want to have in the city of Dallas,” Rawlings said during a press conference. “And for that reason this is a terrible thing that has happened. Not only has he lost his life, but we’ve lost a potential leader for this city for decades to come.”