In Dallas, five people were killed and seven others were injured Thursday night during what’s being called the deadliest day for police officers in the U.S. since 9/11.
While they were keeping order at a protest against police brutality, four Dallas police officers and one Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officer were killed Thursday night by at least one gunman who was shooting from an elevated position. The DART officer has been identified as Brent Thompson, who was 43 years old. The identities of the four other officers have yet to be revealed.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown said the suspect who was killed during the standoff with police said he was upset about Black Lives Matter and wanted to kill white police officers.
BREAKING: Dallas chief says suspect wanted to “kill white people, especially white officers” https://t.co/uRRqtay4XT pic.twitter.com/L38Lt7FvUU
MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 8, 2016
“The suspect said he was upset about Black Lives Matter,” Brown said during a press conference on Friday. “He was upset about the recent shootings. The suspect said he was upset at white people. The suspect said he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers.”
Authorities have identified one gunman, who is now dead, as Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, of Dallas. Johnson was a U.S. citizen and an Army veteran. He had no known ties to any terror groups, nor did he have a criminal history.
Alleged Dallas gunman Micah X. Johnson was an Army veteran, an Army personnel spokesperson confirmed to me. #DallasPoliceShooting
— Alex Horton (@AlexHortonTX) July 8, 2016
During the standoff with police, Johnson reportedly told authorities that “the end is coming,” and that there were explosive devices throughout the area surrounding the protests.
One suspect was killed by an explosive device attached to a robot which was deployed by law enforcement.
Three other suspects remain in custody.
In a press conference in Warsaw, Poland, President Obama said the nation is “horrified” by these events.
“We are horrified over these events.” https://t.co/uxzTHSN3Nc pic.twitter.com/dCwrT2o5l0
Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 8, 2016
Thursday night’s protest was in response to two black men who were shot and killed by police officers within 48 hours of one another earlier this week. In response to these shootings, protests have taken place across the country.