Powerful Moment When Victim's Brother Forgave Officer Amber Guyger for Botham Jean Death
October 03, 2019

During the sentencing of Dallas officer Amber Guyger for the tragic Botham Jean death, a powerful courtroom update left everyone in awe. The victim's brother, Brandt Jean, not only offered his forgiveness, but also hugged the woman responsible for his sibling's death and encouraged her to give her life to Christ!
Botham Jean Death -- What Happened?
On September 6, 2018, Dallas police officer Amber Guyger returned home after a late shift. 26-year-old accountant Botham Jean lived in the apartment directly above her.
RELATED: 26 Years Later, Victim Confronts The Man Who Shot Her In The Face
According to officer Amber Guyger, she mistakenly got off on the wrong floor and went to what she thought was her apartment. In fact, she entered Botham Jean's apartment. She fatally shot the young man, saying she thought he was an intruder in her home.
Who Is Botham Jean?
Sadly, many now know Botham Jean for his death. However, those who knew Botham personally remember him as a hard-working, kind, man of faith.
“Botham was a soldier of Christ,” his aunt, Desma Charles, said.
Ann and I with Botham Jean on a much happier day last year at a Harding reception in the Dallas West Church of Christ where Botham led singing and I preached. Such a tragic loss of a beloved brother. pic.twitter.com/0b5bWCZ4t7
— Bruce McLarty (@BruceMcLarty) September 7, 2018
Botham grew up in St. Lucia, but graduated from Harding University, a Christian college in Arkansas.
“He led singing often in HU Chapel and at the College Church of Christ in Searcy,” said Glenn Dillard, assistant vice president for enrollment management at Harding University.
Following an internship at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Botham went to work for the professional services and auditing firm in Dallas.
In Dallas, Botham Jean plugged in with the Dallas West Church of Christ, where he served as a regular song leader and taught a Wednesday night class for young adults.
“He would always say to me, ‘Brother Berry, I want to do more,’” minister and elder Sammie Berry said.
The news of Botham Jean's tragic death rocked all who knew and loved him.
RELATED: Dad’s Words For The Guy Who Killed His Son Will Hit You Hard
“This world has lost a light in the dark,” said Kerry Ray, one of Botham's coworkers at PricewaterhouseCooper.
A close friend from college, Alexis Stossel, slumped to the floor when she and her husband heard of Botham's death.
“People gravitated towards him,” Alexis said of Botham. “It didn’t matter if you didn’t know him personally or you were just in the same room, you just felt welcomed by his presence.”
Credit: Christian ChronicleWhere Is Amber Guyger Now?
Sadly, the tragic death of Botham Jean sparked lots of speculation and racial controversy. By all accounts, this appears to be the complete opposite of what Botham would have wanted.
"He never saw color -- he never saw race," Botham's mother, Allison Jean, explained. "He wanted all of us to unite, to be together.”
But in the courtroom for the sentencing trial of Dallas officer Amber Guyger, Botham's younger brother, Brandt Jean, honored his late brother and his Savior, in the most powerful way.
The trial included a tearful testimony from Amber as to why she shot Botham Jean.
"I was scared whoever was inside my apartment was going to kill me," she pleaded. "And I'm sorry. I have to live with that every single day."
RELATED: George Strait Held On To His Faith To Overcome Tragedy
A judge sentenced officer Amber Guyger to 10 years in prison. Before she was taken away, the victim's brother, Brandt Jean, took the stand and addressed Amber directly.
But what the victim's brother had to say might not be what you'd expect to hear at a murder trial!
Powerful Moment Of Forgiveness
As Brandt Jean addressed the woman responsible for his brother's death, his words were not those of condemnation. Rather, he showed Christ-like love and compassion in the face of this awful tragedy.
"I forgive you. And I know if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you," Brandt told Amber. "I don't even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you because that's exactly what Botham would want. And the best would be, give your life to Christ. I think giving your life to Christ would be the best thing that Botham would want you to do."
After speaking these powerful words, Brandt Jean asked the judge if he could give Dallas officer Amber Guyger a hug. And seeing a sobbing Amber run into the open arms of her victim's brother. . . wow.
WATCH: Victim's Brother Hugs Amber Guyger After Botham Jean Death
THIS is what God's love and forgiveness looks like! And there's no question that God was in that courtroom.
Just after the touching scene with the victim's brother, District Judge Tammy Kemp is said to have given her Bible to Amber.
"You can have mine. I have three or four more at home," she said. "This is the one I use every day. This is your job for the next month. It says right here. John 3:16. And this is where you start. 'For God so loved the world...'"
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 8 True Crime Stories from Survivors Behind ‘The Redemption Project’ (And What They Can Teach Us)
Choosing forgiveness is never easy. But it's what Christ tells us to do. What an incredible example of how to live out your faith even in the deepest tragedy. Our prayers go out to the entire Jean family during this difficult time.
"Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21
h/t: WRIC
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Avoid Unrighteous Judgment - Your Daily Prayer - June 20
Jesus does not tell us not to judge at all, especially when it comes to using our discernment.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Avoid Unrighteous Judgment - Your Daily Prayer - June 20
Jesus does not tell us not to judge at all, especially when it comes to using our discernment.
Past Stories
- 7 Simple Ways I Fight Lust
- Retiring Teacher Gives Each of Her Students a Special Personalized Gift to Say Goodbye
- Stranger Reaches Out to Help a Family of Six Whose Van Was Stolen While On Vacation
- After 50 Years of Teaching, She Said Goodbye to Students in a Way They’ll Never Forget
- High School Throws Their 90-Year-Old Well-Loved Janitor a Birthday Party
- 10 Upbeat Songs For Your Summer Road Trip
- 7 Prayers For Your Kids For Safety While They Are Off For The Summer
- Community Welcomes Beloved Mailman Back After Beating Cancer, 'He's the Mailman of the Century'
- For Their 40th Anniversary, Utah Couple Decides to Bike 4,000 Miles Across the Country
- A Father's Final Goal Lives On as His Family Completes 365 Days of Playing Catch
- Teacher and Fellow Students Support Young Girl Battling Cancer With Her Favorite Thing, Music
- Firefighters Adopt This Sweet Pup That Ended Up Outside the Firehouse
- 90-Year-Old Gets Master's Degree and Becomes Oldest Person to Graduate from Texas School
- The Lie That Keeps People Away From God
- Couple Celebrating Their Diamond Anniversary Shares the Secrets to Their Long Marriage
- A School in Pennsylvania Buried a Time Capsule in 1976, They’ve Finally Opened It 50 Years Later
- A Woman Battling Incurable Cancer Set Her Sights on Everest, and Made It to the Top
- Woman Walks Away With Only a Few Scratches After a Car Crashes Through Her Windshield
- A Simple Wrong Number Led to a Beautiful Friendship Between Two Strangers
- 5 Moments That Prove Moms Always Show Up at the Perfect Time
- Community Steps Up to Honor WWII Veteran With No Known Family
- Soldier Surprises Daughter at Her High School Graduation, and it's So Sweet
- Firefighters Save a Little League Game and Give the Kids a Memory They Will Never Forget
- The Delay That Upgraded My Faith
- A Nurse Saved a Baby No One Thought Would Survive, 50 Years Later, They Still Have a Strong Bond
- This Mom and Daughter Share Life at a Retirement Community, and it is Quite a Special Thing
- California Couple Celebrates Their 80th Anniversary, After Meeting As Teenagers
- Martin Short Opens Up About Love, Loss, and Finding Joy Through Life’s Hardest Moments
- After Being Paralyzed Nearly 2 Years Ago, This Man Walked Across the Stage to Earn His MBA
- When a Graduation Photo Went to the Wrong House, Strangers Became Family
- Your Testimony Does Not Have to Be Dramatic to Be Powerful
- Born in 1918, This 108-Year-Old Woman Has No Plans of Slowing Down Anytime Soon
- Woman Gives Birth to Baby On Airplane With the Help of Passengers
- 85-Year-Old Man Receives His Doctorate Degree, 'It's Never Too Late'
- Little Girl Dancing Her Heart Out During Class Graduation Performance Goes Viral
- Joanna Gaines Father's Day Post Reveals How Different Her Life Could've Been If Not For God's Plan
- Baby Who Was Born Twice After Miracle Surgery is About to Celebrate His First Birthday
- A Man Took the Stage at Graduation, Then Announced He Was Paying Off Student Loans
- Strong Enough to Serve
- His Grandma Never Got to Go to a Prom, So This Young Man Took Her to His
- Triplets Turn 86-Year-Old and Have So Much to Share, 'God Has Been Very Very Good to Us'
- Pilot’s Final Flight Was Canceled, Then a Rival Airline Gave Him the Goodbye He Deserved
- First Grader Saves His Classmate From Choking, Now An Honorary Member of the Fire Department
- Couple Delivers Their Own Baby Girl at a Stoplight, Not Making it to the Hospital in Time
- After 30 Years Apart, These Siblings Found Each Other Again in a Retirement Home
- He Helped Deliver Her, Then Became a Lifelong Friend—22 Years Later, He Watched Her Graduate
- 7 Country Songs For Graduation Day and Graduates
- Top 10 Christian Graduation Songs For the Graduate
- A Grandpa Just Completed the World’s Largest Jigsaw Puzzle, 60,000 Pieces in All
- Memorial Day Cookout Hacks and Tips Worth Celebrating
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

toby mac TobyMac Drops ‘Heaven On My Mind’ Official Music Video

Lauren Daigle ‘Trust In You’ – Beautiful Worship Song From Lauren Daigle

The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance

Colton Dixon 'The Other Side' - Colton Dixon Song For Lost Loved Ones

Nichole Nordeman 'Slow Down' - Nichole Nordeman Sings Emotional Love Letter From Moms To Their Babies
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.









