5th Officer Dies After Dallas Protest Shooting and Suspects in Custody

HOUSTON, TX – The death toll has risen to five police officers dead with six others injured, officials said. The nation is stunned, some waking up to learn more about what is now being called the deadliest day for law enforcement since 9/11. Three people are in police custody this morning and one suspect is now dead.

During a week where possible police misconduct that killed two men was caught on cell phone video and shared on social media, tragedy struck again Thursday night. Following a peaceful rally, which included approximately 800 people of all age and race, dozens of gunshots rang out.

Dallas Police officials said 100 police officers were staffed to assist in protecting demonstrators, the public and to provide traffic control. At 8:58 p.m. (CST) the shots were fired in the ambush-style shooting with bullets striking eleven police officers. The crowd of peaceful protesters and police scattered seeking cover from the dozens of shots fired from an elevated position.

A photo of a person of interest was circulated early on, but the man pictured later turned himself in, was interviewed and was subsequently cleared. The Dallas Police Department police observed suspicious activity from the occupants of a black Mercedes. They conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle on the I-35 and Kiest, taking the two male occupants of the vehicle into custody.  

One female who was located in a parking garage near the scene of the shooting and was also taken into custody. Police were in contact with a fourth suspect who was on the 2nd floor of the El Centro parking garage. A fourth suspect who exchanged fire with police was in negotiations with police overnight.

The male suspect later identified as Micah Xavier Johnson, 25 was not cooperative officials said.  The fourth suspect told negotiators, that “the end is coming he is going to hurt and kill more of us [law enforcement officers] there are bombs all over the place in this garage and town,” said  Dallas Police Chief David Brown. 

“We saw no other option but to use our bomb robot and place a device on its extension for it to detonate where the suspect was. Other options would have exposed our officers to grave danger. The suspect is deceased as a result of detonating the bomb.”

The remaining six injured are in various conditions, some stable and others in critical condition. The civilian who was injured fleeing from the gunfire is in stable condition with a gunshot wound to her leg.

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