Amber Guyger found guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of an unarmed neighbor

DALLAS (AP) — A  former Dallas police officer has been found guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of her unarmed, neighbor in his apartment.

A jury convicted Amber Guyger Tuesday in the killing of Botham Jean in September 2018.

Guyger was off-duty but still in uniform after a long shift when she shot the 26-year-old accountant from the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia.

At trial, Guyger apologized for killing Jean and said she feared for her life upon finding the door unlocked of what she thought was her apartment.

Guyger’s lawyers called the shooting a “tragic, but innocent” mistake.

Prosecutors questioned how Guyger missed numerous signs that she was at the wrong apartment.

Jean was unarmed and had been eating ice cream before Guyger entered his apartment.

Cheers could be heard in the Dallas County courthouse after a judge announced the verdict.

Family members of Botham Jean and others embraced shortly after Judge Tammy Kemp announced that Guyger was convicted of murder.  Someone yelled, “Thank you, Jesus” following the verdict.

Guyger, who was fired following the fatal shooting, sat alone at the defense table and wept after the verdict announced.

The jury is expected to return Tuesday afternoon for the punishment phase of the trial. Guyger faces five to 99 years in prison.