A police officer shot by a man was a professional, member of the local church



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The 26-year-old man who was killed by a Dallas police officer on leave in a seemingly confused apartment for himself was a beloved member of a local church and an employee of a prestigious accounting and consulting firm according to those who knew him.

Botham Jean was shot dead Thursday night when a patrol who lived in the same apartment complex south of downtown Dallas went home after a shift.

The officer, who is white, was still wearing his police uniform when she "met" Jean, who was black, inside the apartment. It's not clear what was the interaction between them, but at one point she "fired her gun, hitting the victim," according to Mr. Hall.

The officer called 911 for help and the intervention officers provided Jean with assistance at the scene. He was later taken to a local hospital where he died later, said the police chief.

John was from the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia. In 2016, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, where he specialized in accounting and management information systems, according to a press release. school.

"The whole Harding family is complaining today about the loss of Botham Jean, who has been so important to us, please join us in praying for Botham's friends and family," Harding University said Friday. .

Jean was an active member of the student body of the private Christian university. He was resident assistant, intern for the Rock House campus department, leader of the Sub-T-16 men's social club, and a member of the Good News Singers a capella group. He also "frequently led the worship for the chapel and campus events," said the school.

Harding University President Bruce McLarty shared his favorite memory of John with chapel students on Friday morning.

"One year after the conference, I asked him to conduct an evening.Because of the subject, there was a particular old anthem that I asked him if he wanted to direct," said McLarty. "He did not say anything about not knowing the song, but he never heard it before.He came that night and smiled and was excited at the idea of He said that he never had But that day, he recalled St. Lucia and asked his grandmother to teach him this old hymn on the phone. So he shared with us at the conference that night and it was a very special moment.

PHOTO: Botham Jean is seen on February 27, 2014.Jeff Montgomery / Harding University / AP
Botham Jean is seen on February 27, 2014.

The Dallas police chief said at a press conference Friday afternoon that the authorities are currently obtaining an arrest warrant against the agent, who has not yet been identified.

"At the very beginning of this investigation, the first indications were that they were what we consider the circumstances of a shot involving an officer," Hall told the press. "However, as we continued this investigation, it became clear that we were dealing with a situation that seems very different and unique."

The officer involved was not injured in the incident and was placed on administrative leave while the police department conducted a joint investigation with the Dallas District Attorney's Office on what to expect. They thought they were shooting.

The Dallas Police Department has since stopped dealing with the incident as part of its "normal shot protocol involving an officer" and has invited the Texas Rangers to conduct an independent investigation. The officer also took a blood sample to search for drugs and alcohol, according to Hall.

The police chief said that she had spoken to Jean's family to express his condolences and reassure the investigators who are working "diligently" on the case.

"Currently, there are more questions than answers, we understand the concerns of the community," Hall told reporters. "That's why we work with as much vigor and thoroughness as possible to ensure the integrity of the case and the ministry is respected, so we hope to bring understanding to the family."

PHOTO: Botham Jean is seen celebrating worship at a presidential reception at the University in Dallas on September 21, 2017.Jeff Montgomery / Harding University / AP
Botham Jean is seen celebrating worship at a presidential reception at the University in Dallas on September 21, 2017.

At the time of his death, Jean worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, a multinational professional services company with an office in Dallas. He was registered on LinkedIn as an experienced risk insurance partner.

"It's a terrible tragedy." Botham Jean was a member of the PwC family in our Dallas office and we are just sorry to hear of his passing, "the company said in a statement to ABC News on Friday. .

The Dallas West Church of Christ, where John would have worshiped and taught a Bible study for young adults every Wednesday, shared a message about his death on Facebook with a short, dark message.

"In tears," wrote the church Friday afternoon, with a reference to a Bible verse that says "pray unceasingly" and "hold firm what is good".

A church spokesperson did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for more comments on Saturday.

PHOTO: Botham Jean speaks at Harding University on March 24, 2014.Jeff Montgomery / Harding University / AP
Botham Jean speaks at Harding University on March 24, 2014.

In a recent interview with WFAA, an ABC affiliate in Dallas, church minister, Sammie Berry, said that "the story has changed because we have lost this great young man" .

Jessica Berry, the minister's daughter and a close friend of Jean, told WFAA that John was to lead the worship Sunday.

"It's as if much of the heart of the church had been torn off," she said.

ABC News & # 39; Kathleen Hendry and Jenna Kaplan contributed to this report.

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