UPDATE: THE LONER WHO CAUSED SUCH DAMAGE
Although originally, officials—and observers-–believed there were as many as four shooters lethally targeting police officers, it appears that all the damage and heartache of Thursday night in Dallas was caused by one disturbed, angry and very well-armed person.
CHAOS AND DEATH
At an otherwise peaceful protest in downtown Dallas Thursday night, following two controversial police involved shootings—in St. Paul, Minnesota and in Baton Rouge, LA—an estimated two snipers and two additional shooters, one known to be on the ground, suddenly opened fire at police at around 9 p.m., Dallas time.
Five Dallas police officers were killed and seven others wounded in a ghastly attempt to target police specifically. Among the dead officers were four members of the Dallas Police Department and one Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown said that suspects were working together to kill as many officers as possible, with two snipers firing from elevated positions.
Yet another suspect or suspects were confirmed to be working on the ground. One Dallas man saw a suspect dressed in body armor shoot an officer at point blank range. The frightened bystander recorded the shooting on video.
THREE SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY, ONE DEAD
Three suspects are in custody as of Friday morning, and a fourth, who had exchanged gunfire and words with police from inside the parking garage of a downtown building, is now dead. The dead man is believed to be the shooter captured on video reportedly killing a police officer.
Although the captured suspects, which reportedly include one woman, have been uncommunicative, Chief Brown said that the attacker cornered in the standoff told authorities “he was upset about the recent police shootings” and “wanted to kill white people, especially white officers.”
The cornered suspect, was blown up by a bomb robot sent in by police. He did not kill himself as had been earlier reported, according to Chief Brown.
DEAD SHOOTER IDENTIFIED US ARMY RESERVIST MICAH XAVIER JOHNSON
The LA Times has identified the Dallas shooter who was killed in a standoff with police as Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, a former Army reservist with no criminal record. Johnson lives near to Dallas, with relatives in Mesquite, Texas, authorities told the Times.
He has no known ties to extremist groups, or the like.
The U.S. Army has confirmed to several publications that Johnson served in the Army Reserves from March 2009 to April 2015, and received several awards after a tour of Afghanistan, from November 2013 to July 2014. His military occupational specialty was carpentry and masonry.
Two civilians, one man and one woman, were also injured in the course of Thursday night’s devastating shooting attack.
Later on Friday morning Chief Brown confirmed that Micah Johnson was the dead gunman.
FORMERLY THE MOST HATED MAN IN AMERICA
On Thursday night, the brother of an individual whose photo had been widely distributed as a “person of interest,” came forward to say that his brother did indeed have a rifle when he was marching, “exercising his second amendment rights,” but that the gun was not loaded. When the firing began, Mark Hughes gave his gun to a police officer, said Corey Hughes of his brother, to avoid giving “the wrong impression.” Mark Hughes, the missing brother, turned himself in around 9:30 PST on Thursday night, once he realized his face was plastered all over the media.
Mark Hughes and his brother Cory say they are now getting death threats. “We came for a peaceful protest, and we were helping police direct traffic” once the shooting started, said Cory Hughes. “And my brother was named as an armed ‘suspect,’ not a person of interest, but a suspect. I know everyone is hurting because of the dead police officers. But we don’t feel safe.”
Cory Hughes says he worries because the announcement naming his brother as a suspect was so widely distributed, yet there was no announcement clearing him. “My brother’s photo was plastered all over the world. for a while, he was the most hated man in America. There are extremists out there. We don’t know what they’re going to do.”
HEARTBROKEN
President Obama, who was out of the country at a NATO summit meeting in Warsaw, Poland, called the attack “vicious, calculated and despicable.”
“I believe I speak for every single American when I say we are horrified over these events,” said the president.
“Justice will be done,” Obama promised.
“We’re hurting,” said Dallas police chief Brown, in a press conference Friday morning. “Our profession is hurting. Dallas officers are hurting. We are heartbroken.”
NOTE ONE: In light of this news, we are delaying publication of our other planned stories. Those delayed stories will appear later Friday or, most likely, Monday morning.
NOTE TWO: This story has been updated multiple times, and continues to be updated
Five deaths within 4 days involving Cops vs Citzens……How sad and tragic.
ALL lives Matter!
Ladies and Gents, opinions aside. Please be safe. Get home safe. All lives matter.
Guess a burned out Furgeson and Baltimore weren’t good enough, thanks Obama!
Now we need to ask ourselves; was the racial hate-filled rhetoric by Gov Dayton and President Obama a contributor? Fight back and stay vigilant! Add, did Baca’s tenure in offcie help create more animosity toward the police? Great job, Stonich, Waldie and Tanaka! NOT!
Blacks are murdering blacks in record numbers all across our country. Why do our government leaders refuse to address this issue. White cops have now become the criminals, and the criminals have become the victims. Obama makes me want to puke.
No Logic, but didn’t expect any. Bad crook, we kill one we get slaughtered by press just killing him not his friends and family. This will be washed away away quick. Dead Cops already hearing well they shouldn’t have been at the march on News. If we were not fearful that our system is collapsing its too late. Its already collapsed and there will be many dead and the national guard and Marines will be occupying our country soon. Fact Obama,s quote will be just like his refusal to acknowledge that we have a muslim war going on. he will say its sad about the cops, “But I Understand”
Above all, the media is to blame. Half truths, never the full video and always perpetuating “us versus them”. NEVER COVERING THE CORE ISSUES. All for ratings and ad space. Each side is flawed and accountable, yet the media persists in adding fuel. The only victims are the citizens and the line officers.
Obama in true form, never allowing a crisis to go to waste, proclaims gun control is the answer. One day prior to this slaughter, he, the media and politicians at large were stoking the flames of racial divide with pandering statements over two OIS in which they have no facts, just innuendo. I have never seen such divide in our country. But that is exactly what the plan has been.
And a Missouri cop shot three times in the neck today after ticketing a driver and starting to walk back to his unit. Always be armed, always have a second and enough ammo…always.
However tragic, this is not the biggest nor last divide in our country. Every POTUS and it’s administration has had its share of being hated and having controversy.
Read on facebook one of the Dallas officers killed had worked for LASD as a LET at Lennox and Lancaster before going to Dallas to become a police officer…
Calling it a spade, if you are so sure about “what the plan has been,” exactly what is that plan? And more importantly, why? I hear a lot of hate coming across these forums towards the POTUS, but not many facts to support them. I’m all for holding elected officials accountable for what they actually do, not what we believe based on partisan hatred. The Dem Governor of Minnesota demonstrated his idiocy amply by stating the shooting was an act of racism.
There have been OIS for decades, tell me when any POTUS before Obama, took get involved other than either do their PC speech. I understand Obama is Black and naturally he’s connected, but like Law Enforcement he is held to a higher standard, we can’t allow personal values or outside biases to get involved. Last I checked these are local agencies not federal, since when is the president involved in the use of force policy for any agency. I’m not justifying any one shooting, but please for goodness sake allow the facts to come to light. Hold your comments till all the truths come out. Everyone including the POTUS is get talking about “implicit bias” and how do we train to get away from this. Are you kidding, how about just maybe a white cop was doing his job and part of that job may be a shooting. No cop wants to shoot or kill someone. There is of course always that one bad apple, but thats in every profession. Both in Minnesota and Louisiana are open carry states I believe, doesn’t mean carry a gun in your pocket loaded, that’s not open carry. The gentleman that had the rifle slung over his shoulder is a prime example of legal open carry, and even during that chaos he wasn’t shot. It’s my understanding that in both shooting both deceased were carrying concealed, NOT OPEN CARRY. I’m not going to say POTUS wanted to create a divide, but I think without attempting to, some of his decisions and speeches have fueled that hate. I for one don’t feel one way or another. Do your job and go home safe. Doesn’t matter race, creed, religion, ETC……They all commit crime.
The recent killing of five police officers and the wounding of eight others in Dallas has shocked the nation and perhaps will be a watershed moment in race relations in the United States. We have the opportunity now to address the issues of racism, perceived or real, within law enforcement and the African American community.
The first step in a national debate is to be open to the facts where ever they may lead. African Americans currently make up approximately 13% of the population. Recent statics from the Department of Justice show African Americans are responsible for almost 50% of the crime committed in the United States. A Department of Justice report shows in the years 1980-2008, African Americans committed approximately 52% of the homicides in the United States. The recent number of homicides in the City of Chicago adds validity to the report.
The adversarial relationship between the police and young African Americans in the inner city is very real, for both sides. Police officers know statistically, the chances of being killed by an African American are three times that of the white population. They are also aware young African Americans are more likely to be confrontational and aggressive during contacts with the police than other groups within the population. The fear police officers have working in the African American communities are real and justified by history, law enforcement statics, and the recent events in Dallas.
In Ferguson, Mo. the confrontation between Michael Brown and Officer Darren Wilson seemed to start the recent chain of events. The “hands up, don’t shoot” mantra was used by protesters and began the Black Lives Matter protests. We now know Officer Wilson was brutally attacked by Michael Brown and was justified in the use of deadly force. The Department of Justice investigation substantiated the facts of the shooting. It is clear the Black Lives Matter movement was based on anger and resentment, but not the truth.
Recent confrontations between African Americans and the police have been sensationalized by the media and added fuel to a fire already burning out of control. Although there are instances of police misconduct, the vast majority of the recent incidents involving deadly force between the police and African Americans appear to be justified. Eric Garner died as a result of a physical altercation with police. He had the opportunity to cooperate with the police during a lawful detention, but refused. His death, although tragic, was initiated by his own actions. The video clearly shows the police officers used restraint during the altercation, and had no intent to harm him. In the Alton Sterling incident, he refused to comply with the lawful orders of the police which resulted in a physical confrontation. During the struggle, Mr. Sterling is found to be armed with a handgun. He is ordered to stop resisting and not to move. He refused, which justified the lawful shooting and his subsequent death. In many of the incidents cited by the Black Lives Matter movement and the media, the altercations between the police and African American are initiated by the suspect, and his refusal to follow lawful orders during a legal detention.
Recently, our leaders in government have looked to put the blame on law enforcement instead of introspection and the hard work required to address the real issues affecting African American communities, poverty, lack of education, and single family homes. Ultimately, the African American community will have to accept responsibility for the issues which plague their cities and neighborhoods. Until then, nothing will change and the cycle of violence will continue.
Hillary says every officer needs more training on how to not use force.
Better idea, spend that money to teach savages to stop acting like savages.
Bandwagon: For starters, if any LEO, FEARS to work any communnity or has ANY fear,then he/she should not be in law enforcement period. Second. You can only speculate to the OIS in Louisiana,Minnesota or any other place if you weren’t there. Please save the “stop resisting” rhetoric in the Sterling shooting. Was there another audio or video that substantiates that term? Geez.
Wow, #16 no fear ever eh? Sounds pretty awesome , or, you’re totally full of crap, which sounds more than likely.
@ 14) Other than your opinion in which you are totally entitled to…… You sound like the typical armchair quarterback, on any given shooting.
Anyone who believes the POTUS and both of his AG’s haven’t driven a wedge between law enforcement and the Black community are either ignorant to their words and actions, in his pocket no matter what he does or simply stupid. There are no other choices.
First of all like it was explained by bandwagon The majority of murders in the united states are young black suspects. If you remember, go back to the 80s and look at Firestone, Lynwood, and Lennox. Firestone had 2 black officers, lynwood had 3 and lennox had 4 so obviously white cops contacting black criminals happened about 99% of the time. Face it our worst areas were black, and black deputies that are friends of mine used to tell me, why would I want to work there where they call me a trader and hate me. I am going to Marina Del Rey, and West Hollywood. That is the reason its always a white/hispanic cop and a black suspect. I hated when I would roll out to an officer involved shooting and the first question from the chief was always was the cop white or black. The game is gonna get worse. Eventually no one will want to be a cop.
All Lives Matter: You know not of what you speak. Officers find themselves in deadly encounters all the time. Fear is a natural part of the human condition. The fact the officers work in these areas is a tribute to their bravery and courage. I saw the Alton Sterling video. He was ordered to stop, but refused. Perhaps “stop resisting” should be replaced with “hands up, don’t shoot”. I think the fact he was resisting and told to stop substantiates the term “stop resisting”
All Lives: I guess with your thinking soldiers who are serving in combat areas should not feel fear. I suggest you join your local law enforcement department or join the military. At least then you might gain some insight into reality!
#16- get off your high horse. Fear is a natural part of the human existence and to say a cop who is scared shouldn’t be a cop is ridiculous and illustrates your ignorance. Controlling fear and not allowing it to dictate your response is the key but you wouldn’t know that because you’ve probably never conducted a traffic stop, searched for a violent suspect, or gotten into a fight just because you wear a badge.
Ignorance and entitlement are the reasons why these individuals met their demise sorry to say. Our beloved president has passed judgement on police before the bodies were cold. That’s fine I don’t work for him. My oath is to the Consitution and time is coming when good Americans are going to defend that precious document because uneducated clowns are whittling it down to scrap paper.
Really? Really….my comments are substantiated by statics from the Department of Justice..as far as the Alton Sterling video…..the facts of the shooting speak for themseves..get a life..
It’s sad that leaders in the highest offices, and some candidates seeking to succeed them, are making self-serving statements, on balance, showing enormous and misguided support for the ill-conceived knee-jerk opinions held by the flagrantly uninformed masses who are upset with the OIS’s while at the same time, not emphasizing and encouraging calm and patience to await the outcome of what is always a complex, protracted investigation into what actually happened. A video does not make a comprehensive OIS investigation. And politicians going all PC on us before all the facts are collected have contributed to inflaming, intensifying and inciting those docile sheep they lead.
Dust off your bibles or go and buy one. Read about the FEARLESS young shepherd named David who slew the giant named Goliath. Read the 23rd Psalms. Mike Tysons 1st professional loss was to Buster Douglas because Douglas did not FEAR Mike at all. Concerns are one thing and most cops who work fast stations and with hardcore gangsters in custody are aware of danger but they are fearless.
Remember the suspect in San Bernadino last year on the horse who got the beatdown by the deputies without resisting arrest, Remember Walter Scott who was shot in the back by the cop in South Carolina and lied about being attacked, then “planting” the taser close to Scott’s body. The list goes without missing a beat. Short memories and long talking. Interesting.
Really Not So Long Ago, 800,000 cops or so, millions and millions of contacts yearly and how many really criminal actions can you actually point to. STFU dude and sit down, you have nothing. The numbers are simply not there but the violence in the Black community in about 2% of the males are and what’s this administration and the liberal answer? Empty the jails and victimize more in their own neighborhoods than blame it on L.E. when things go sideways. Spare me.
Black lives matters, just not in Compton, when blacks shoot blacks.
Brown lives matters, just not in east los angeles, when hispanics shoot hispanics.
A black person is four times more likely to be killed by a member of their own race than a white person is, per capita.
But now let’s compare the exact number of black people killed in 2015 by police to the average number killed per year by their own race. In 2015, 258 black people were shot and killed by the police while about 2,500 were killed by a member of their own race.
When you put that all together, a black person is 10 times, or 1,000 percent, more likely to be killed by a member of their own race than by a police officer. And this does not even take into account whether the officer doing the shooting was black or white.
ALL LIVES MATTER.
Being confrontational and disrespectful with my parents didn’t work out for me as a young black man. Who thinks that being confrontational and disrespectful to police when they are lawfully enforcing their duties is going to work out well for them?
Yes, there are times when an officers’ actions are completely acts of misconduct. And there are procedures in place to address these actions.
I teach my children COMPLIANCE when contacted by an officer. Because COMPLIANCE will ALWAYS afford them an opportunity to reflect on the contact, discuss that contact, and consider taking any LAWFUL actions they feel are warranted.
I teach my children this because as a former law enforcement officer, I know that they CANNOT “win” during that contact in the street. The reason for the stop by the officer may appear PETTY and ANNOYING but he probably has legal standing for making the stop. BUT my children, like many young adults, are probably reacting with their EMOTIONS……which I have found to be more FLAMABLE than HELPFUL.
So I ask YOU, the community for which I have and many continue to protect…..what are you teaching YOUR children.
Police go through thousands of hours of training, briefings, and updates……..how much time do you put in training your children how to conduct themselves when contacted by the police??
Maybe this will get through…
It was mentioned that African Americans and more typically African American males, are more confrontational at times during LEO interactions. I find this to be true especially of young black men. This phenomena probably has components of historical and cultural bias along with a lack of overall respect for oneself, family and of course authority figures. It’s not all about not having a male in the household but about being taught early on the true lessons of respect, self-respect and self control. This problem may be more exaggerated in the black communities across the country but is also present throughout society as a whole…albeit imaybe not on such a grand scale.
NBG: Well stated. That is the same message all parents should have with their kids regardless of race……
Agree, kudos NBG.