Last night in Dallas, TX at a peaceful protest, a gunmen ambushed police officers, killing five and wounding seven others. Once captured, the gunmen told police that he ‘acted alone’ and ‘wanted to shot white cops.’ In recent days, there have been two fatal shootings of black men by police officers, both incidents have gained national media attention.
From the Journal Sentinel:
DALLAS (AP) – Gunmen shot and killed five police officers and wounded seven others during a protest over fatal police shootings of black men in other states, authorities said. It appeared to be the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Thursday’s bloodshed, which unfolded just a few blocks from where President John F. Kennedy was slain in 1963, also evoked the trauma of the nation’s tumultuous civil rights era.
Police Chief David Brown blamed “snipers,” but it was unclear how many shooters were involved. Authorities initially said three suspects were in custody and a fourth dead. But Brown later said police were not certain that all suspects had been located.
Mayor Mike Rawlings said the dead suspect was killed by police using explosives in a parking garage where the man had exchanged gunfire with officers.
Before dying, the police chief said, the suspect declared to officers that he was upset about recent shootings and wanted to kill whites, “especially white officers.” The suspect also said he was not affiliated with any groups and stated that he acted alone, Brown added.
None of the suspects was identified, and the police chief said he would not disclose any details about them until authorities were sure everyone involved was in custody.
The shooting began about 8:45 p.m. Thursday while hundreds of people were gathered to protest the week’s fatal police shootings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and suburban St. Paul, Minnesota. Brown told reporters the snipers fired “ambush-style” on the officers. Two civilians were also wounded, Rawlings said.
Read more of this story at the Journal Sentinel as details continue to emerge.
