DALLAS — Dallas police officials on Tuesday said at a news conference at Dallas police headquarters that they have three suspects in connection with the shooting death of Joshua Brown, who was a witness in the murder trial of former police officer Amber Guyger.
All three suspects came from Alexandria, La., to purchase drugs from Brown, a police spokesman said. One suspect is in custody, and warrants have been issued for two other suspects.
Assistant Chief Avery Moore identified the suspects as Thaddeous Charles Green, Jacquerious Mitchell, and Michael Diaz Mitchell. Jacquerious Mitchell is in custody at Parkland hospital, Moore said.
The announcement came as pressure increased from community leaders for an independent investigation into Brown’s case. The timing of Brown’s death raised public speculation about whether the shooting was tied to his testimony in the Guyger case.
Officers were called Friday night to the Atera apartments on Cedar Springs Road, where witnesses reported hearing gunshots and seeing a silver four-door sedan speed out of the parking lot.
The shooting occurred about 3.5 miles from the South Side Flats complex in the Cedars, where Brown had lived across the hall from Botham Jean, the black neighbor Guyger shot as he sat in his apartment. Gugyer, a white officer, was off duty when the shooting occurred and said she had mistaken Jean’s apartment for her own. Guyger was convicted of murder last week and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The department confirmed Sunday afternoon that the 28-year-old Brown was the victim officers found around 10:30 p.m. Friday with multiple gunshot wounds to his lower body. Brown died after being taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital.
Before the news conference Tuesday, state District Judge Tammy Kemp, who presided over Guyger’s trial, said in an interview she was shocked to learn of his death and deeply saddened for his family.
“I just can’t imagine what his parents might be going through, and I hate that for them,” Kemp said. “I really hate that for them.”
Kemp recalled how Brown was visibly moved during the testimony he gave during Guyger’s murder trial.
During the trial, Brown testified about the night Jean, who lived across the hall from him, was shot.
He told the jury how he had been returning home after watching a football game at a bar the night of Sept. 6, 2018.
Standing in the hallway, he heard what sounded like “two people meeting by surprise,” followed by gunfire.
Brown got emotional when he recounted how he hadn’t met Jean before that day —they were both visited by the leasing office about a noise complaint —but he often heard his neighbor sing gospel music and songs by Drake.
Brown, 28, had played football at the University of South Florida. He was from Jacksonville, Fla., and had worked managing Airbnbs in Dallas before his death.
