I actually knew this lady. I say knew because I have not seen her in months and months and may never again. We used to work out at the same gym, I knew her only by her first name and did not know she was a cop. She worked out very hard and was amazingly strong for a female. I asked her once how she got so strong, because she was moving around weights that guys lift. She said, "I just don't want to get my butt kicked." I thought at the time, maybe she was training to be an MMA fighter or something, didn't give it any more thought at that moment.
We were just gym buddies, we always spoke and joked around. She seemed very normal, not angry or crazy in any way. She stopped coming to that gym several months before the tragic incident.
I didn't even recognize her from the 1st mug shot and only until I saw other pictures did I make the connection. She doesn't look like that in real life, more like in her recent court appearance. I usually always saw her smiling.
I don't know any more about the facts than anyone else. My understanding is that she had worked a 15 hour shift that day and she was on a special unit that made high-risk arrests. I have also learned from the news that she had previously shot a suspect that wrestled her taser away from her.
I cannot imagine that she just got off work and was looking to shoot someone before she called it a night. I also would be willing to bet that her blood tests don't reveal anything more than protein supplements. The events that transpired were very tragic. The victim did not deserve to be shot and killed. He was in his own residence, watching football. The family wanted the charge upgraded to murder but I am not sure they will be able to legally convict her of that, maybe 2nd degree murder which is basically equivalent to voluntary manslaughter. She is guilty of manslaughter, someone died as a result of her actions.
I hate the whole mess. I can't help but think whatever the final result is, there will be no peace or closure for either side. I could tell that she was dedicated to her job by how she approached her physical conditioning and her career and life is ruined. An innocent young man lost his life which will forever devastate his family. Race relations in Dallas and the rest of the world will not be improved no matter what the outcome.
It's a terrible tragedy.