Suspect killed with robotic explosive device after 14 killed or injured in horrific shooting at Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas
THE suspect in the tragic Dallas shooting that killed five officers has been named as Texas resident Micah Johnson, 25, who was killed by a robotic explosive. WARNING: Graphic content.
THE suspected gunman in the tragic Dallas shooting that killed five police officers and injured nine others on Thursday night has been named as 25-year-old Texas resident Micah Xavier Johnson.
Johnson was a resident of the Dallas area, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the case. He was a member of the US army and had no known criminal history or links to terror groups, according to government sources.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch condemned the fatal shootings on Friday, calling it an “unfathomable tragedy.” Lynch assured that the Department of Justice was “on the scene” working closely with state and local counterparts to assist with the investigation.
“This has been a week of profound grief and heartbreaking loss,” the attorney general said, adding: “To all Americans, I ask you, I implore you, do not let this week precipitate a new normal in this country.
“Let us support one another. Let us help heal one another.”
Earlier, Dallas Police Chief David Brown confirmed the suspect in the deadly shootings was killed with a robotic explosive after negotiations broke down.
NEW: Photo shows #Dallas shooting suspect ID'd as 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson https://t.co/ImEtSSNmRf pic.twitter.com/1iMXKpmMzB
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 8, 2016
Exclusive: One of Dallas shooters has been identified as Micah Johnson
— Exclusive News (@Exclusivestre1m) July 8, 2016
Details: https://t.co/OjJfonc3GC#Dallas pic.twitter.com/EKcE8kmlXx
“We cornered one suspect and tried to negotiate for several hours,” he said in a press conference with Mayor Mike Rawlings.
“Our negotiations broke down. We had an exchange of gunfire. We saw no other option but to use our bomb robot. The suspect is deceased as a result of the detonation of a bomb.”
The pair declined to provide further details on the investigation but said “we're not satisfied” they have followed every lead.
The city’s top cop said it appeared the shooter “planned to injure and kill as many officers as they could” in the “ambush style” attacks.
He said the suspect was lucid and clearly stated he “wanted to kill white people, especially white officers."
“He was upset about Black Lives Matter. He was upset about police shootings, upset at white people ... The suspect stated he was not affiliated with any groups and he stated that he did this alone.”
Police Chief Brown said the force is “heartbroken” by the events and “this divisiveness between our police and our citizens” has to stop.
DALLAS SHOOTING: WHAT WE KNOW
The horrific shooting was the deadliest event law enforcement officers have faced in the US since 9/11 in which 72 were killed.
It occurred at a Black Lives Matter protest following the death of two black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, by police earlier this week. Here’s what we know so far:
• Five officers were killed and nine people injured, including two civilians
• The suspected gunman has been named as Micah Xavier Johnson, 25
• Police were targeted by snipers in ‘ambush style’ attack
• Three suspects are in custody including one female
• Shocking video shows a gunman in hour-long firefight with police
• Suspect was later killed with a robotic explosive device
• Police are combing the city for explosives
• Obama condemns “twisted motivations” of shooters
• Two male victims, one female named so far
• Tributes flow for victims of deadly attack
‘VICIOUS, CALCULATED AND DESPICABLE ACT’
Mayor Rawlings revised the number injured in the attack upwards to nine including seven police officers on Friday morning local time as President Obama condemned the shooting.
Speaking from the start of a NATO summit in Europe, Obama called it a “vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement.”
“I believe I speak for every single American when I say that we are horrified and we stand united with the people and the police department in Dallas,” he said.
Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton cancelled rallies following the killings and called for unity.
Trump, who has had a major role in fanning the flames of racial tension in the US by suggesting Obama was not born in America and espousing plans to build a wall on the Mexican border, offered a measured approach.
“Our nation has become too divided. Too many Americans feel like they’ve lost hope,” he said.
“Crime is harming too many citizens. Racial tensions have gotten worse, not better. This isn’t the American Dream we all want for our children.”
Clinton said: “I mourn for the officers shot while doing their sacred duty to protect peaceful protesters, for their families and all who serve with them.”
The mother of Alton Sterling, 37, who died in Louisiana after being shot by two police officers outside a convenience store said “responding to violence with violence is not the answer.”
“We wholeheartedly reject the reprehensible acts of violence that were perpetrated against members of the Dallas Police Department,” Quinyetta McMillon said.
“Our hearts break for the families of the officers who were lost as they protected protesters and residents alike during a rally.”
Philando Castile’s girlfriend Diamond Reynolds said the Dallas shootings were in response to a state of black male deaths at the hands of police including Trayvon Martin who was killed by a neighbourhood watch volunteer in 2012.
SUSPECT SHOT AT POINT BLANK RANGE
Earlier, graphic footage showed a policeman shot at point blank range after gunfire was exchanged in a final standoff with the suspect who was later killed.
Three other suspects are in custody including a woman who was arrested in garage and two others travelling in a Mercedes.
Dallas Police said two snipers shot police from elevated positions during a Black Lives Matter protest in the city over the deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling earlier this week.
Hundreds of police are sweeping downtown Dallas for explosives which is expected to take “quite a while” according to Dallas Police Departments Major Max Geron. None have been found so far.
Eyewitnesses described the shooting as “like a war zone” that showed people running for their lives.
Video from the scene reveals the graphic moment a policeman was shot dead and eyewitnesses report hearing loud bangs from inside the second-floor garage police had surrounded.
‘SOUNDED LIKE SHATTERING GLASS’
The brutal standoff between police and a gunman was captured on film by witnesses and shows horrific vision of police sheltering behind cars and being slain in the middle of a city street.
A Dallas Morning News reporter tweeted there was a “loud boom and what sounded like shattering glass” shortly after police told reporters to move. Another reporter described the boom as a “flash bang”, a type of stun grenade used to confuse someone’s senses.
Dallas Police Department Chief David Brown said in a press conference that two snipers shot at “police officers from elevated positions during the protest/rally.”
A civilian, Shetamia Taylor, 37, was also wounded while reportedly shielding her sons aged 12 and 17, when she was shot.
Sister Theresa Williams said that when the shooting began, Taylor threw herself over her sons. She was undergoing surgery early Friday after being shot in the right calf.
Last video I got. Sorry for the language we were scared and confused. pic.twitter.com/o0LBivBg8v
— Allison (@allisongriz) July 8, 2016
Brown said police negotiated with the suspect but he “has not been very cooperative”
“The suspect ... has exchanged gunfire with us over the last 45 minutes (and) has told our negotiators that the end is coming, and he’s going to hurt and kill more of us.”
He said the suspect warned there were “bombs all over the place in this garage and in downtown.
“So we are being very careful in our tactics so that we don’t injure or put any of our officers in harm’s way, including the citizens of Dallas, as we negotiate further.”
Earlier police said a suspicious package had been discovered and was being secured by the bomb squad.
Brown confirmed the police had arrested three other suspects but said they didn’t have a “complete comfort level that we have all the suspects”.
“So we will continue a very, very rigorous investigation and search of downtown.”
“We are likely to be working throughout the early morning hours of Friday until we are satisfied that all suspects have been captured and have an opportunity to be interviewed so that we can fully understand what’s motivated this attack on our officers,” he said.
A woman who had been in the same area as the garage was in custody along with two men who were driving nearby.
“We followed a Mercedes with two suspects who had camouflage bags who officers ended up stopping on traffic,” he said. “They are in custody and being interviewed.”
OFFICERS IDENTIFIED AS TRIBUTES POUR IN
The sniper attack on officers is the deadliest day US police have seen since 9/11 when 72 were killed.
The officers killed in the line of duty include Brent Thompson, 43, and Patrick Zamarripa.
Mr Zamarripa’s father confirmed the news his son was dead and said: “I’m still at the hospital here in Parkland Hospital to see him be moved to the medical examiner’s office — need prayers to get through this.”
His stepbrother Dylan Martinez tweeted a picture of him, saying “Everyone say a prayer for my stepbrother Patrick, and his family. He was one of the young Dallas police officers killed this evening.”
Mr Thompson was a Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer who is the first to be killed doing the job.
Fellow transit officer Misty McBride survived the fight after being wounded in the shoulder and abdomen.
No father should have to bury his son. You are a hero, Patrick. Love you man. #PrayForDallas pic.twitter.com/MjCHw7Ktlo
— Dylan Martinez (@KDylanMartinez) July 8, 2016
DART grieving the loss of Ofc Brent Thompson, 43, killed during Thurs protest. First DART officer killed in line of duty. Joined DART 2009.
— dartmedia (@dartmedia) July 8, 2016
NEW: Family says DART officer Misty McBride shot twice, expected to survive https://t.co/pBdHa8nFqM pic.twitter.com/0r4bOUEiHN
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) July 8, 2016
Tributes to the slain and injured officers have flooded social media under the hashtag #DallasStrong. An image of Dallas police officers saluting their dead colleagues outside the city’s hospital has also made headlines around the world.
#Dallas police officers salute their dead outside city's Parkland Hospital. (via @MikeLeslieWFAA) pic.twitter.com/UZcxAY0Kyq
— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) July 8, 2016
We are #DallasStrong pic.twitter.com/lwsU163jpt
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) July 8, 2016
These Dallas shootings are horrific. Killing these officers is morally reprehensible and completely counterproductive to keeping us safe.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 8, 2016
Others have adopted the hashtag Black Lives Matter to say Blue Lives Matter in reference to the police.
However former Congressman Joe Walsh caused a backlash online when he wrote a series of tweets blaming President Obama for the shooting and said Black Lives Matter should be deemed a “hate group.”
10 Cops shot.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
You did this Obama.
You did this liberals.
You did this #BLM.
Time to defend our Cops. Wake up. https://t.co/Zoc3x2xlMk
BLM should be categorized as a hate group.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
ARRESTED MAN RECEIVES DEATH THREATS
One of the men identified as a suspect after the shooting said he has received death threats after being cleared by police.
Mark Hughes was identified as a suspect by Dallas Police Department but later released without charges.
“Y’all have my faces on national news, are y’all gonna come out and say that this young man had nothing to do with it?” told local media after his brother came out and said he had “nothing to do with it”.
“We’ve been getting death threats ... It was persecution on me, uprightly,” he said.
Mark Hughes’ brother Cory told CBS his brother wasn’t involved, and gave police the gun he was carrying, which he was allowed to under the Second Amendment.
He went home after the gun was handed over, Mr Hughes claimed.
“That’s my little brother. That’s not the suspect,” Mr Hughes said. “He just walked away.”
Dallas Police said the man in the photo later surrendered to officers, and gave no other details.
This is one of our suspects. Please help us find him! pic.twitter.com/Na5T8ZxSz6
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) July 8, 2016
YOU GUYS THE BLACK MAN THEYRE CLAIMING IS A SUSPECT IS INNOCENT HE WAS MARCHING BEHIND ME THE ENTIRE TIME pic.twitter.com/yAAvQugKpa
— Chingona (@AmairanyMedel) July 8, 2016
PANIC AT BLACK LIVES MATTER RALLY
The shooting took place in downtown Dallas just before the end of the rally, at about 8.45pm.
The state of Texas introduced a new law in January this year allowing people to openly carry handguns.
The law allows licensed Texans to carry a holstered pistol in public for the first time since 1871. The open carry law passed in the Republican-dominated 2015 legislative session.
According to the New York Post, broadcaster KABC reported that shots were fired during demonstrations at Belo Garden Park in Dallas. Footage showed a heavy police presence with officers taking cover behind vehicles on the street.
Fox News reports protestors were chanting “F**k the police” before the shooting.
Two cops reportedly shot during #Dallas protest pic.twitter.com/g38i4t2OdJ
— BallerAlert (@balleralert) July 8, 2016
The protest was sparked after the deaths of two black men this week, including Philando Castile, who was killed on Wednesday during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, a suburb of Minnesota.
His girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, recorded the aftermath of the incident on live video. She said Castile was shot five times as he sat at the steering wheel reaching into his back pocket for his ID.
Alton Sterling, a black man aged 37, was shot dead by police outside a convenience store. The shooting was caught on video and caused outrage in the US as Mr Sterling was shot by an officer while already pinned to the ground.
#breaking Crowd on the run downtown Dallas. Reports of an officer shot at the protest march. pic.twitter.com/zstZnDIRlm
— Doug Dunbar (@cbs11doug) July 8, 2016
Live TV video showed protesters marching along a street when the shots erupted and the crowd scattered, seeking cover.
Scores of police and security officers were on hand. Police and others hunched behind cars outside a carpark. Officers with guns drawn were running near and into a carpark as police searched for the shooter.
“Oh my God, I mean we’re all seeing this together,” one reporter could be heard during a live cross. “This is not clear, it is not clear, it’s not clear to me what we are seeing but the situation is escalating. That officer is not moving.”
A police dispatcher reached by The Associated Press had no immediate comment while a spokesman for the mayor said he had no information he could share.
Firefighters and police at the scene kept people away.
“Everyone just started running,” Devante Odom, 21, told The Dallas Morning News. “We lost touch with two of our friends just trying to get out of there.”
Carlos Harris, who lives downtown, told the newspaper that the shooters “were strategic”.
“It was tap pause. Tap tap pause.”
— with wires
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