Reporting from Dallas — The brazen attack in downtown Dallas that killed five police officers and injured nine other people was the act of a lone gunman, an Afghanistan veteran drawn to Black Power symbology and a determination to kill white people, authorities concluded Friday.
“This was a mobile shooter that has written manifestos on how to shoot and move. He did that. He did his damage. But we did our damage to him, as well,†Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said after police carefully questioned and ruled out other potential suspects in the Thursday night rampage.
Investigators discovered bomb-making materials, rifles and a “personal journal of combat tactics†in the home of the black former Army reservist who struck during a demonstration against the shooting of two black men by police officers in Minnesota and Louisiana.
Authorities identified the gunman as Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, a Dallas-area resident, a “loner†with no criminal history who “wanted to kill white people†and “especially white officers,†police said.
“He appears to have been a lone gunman, and at this point, we cannot see any connections to any foreign or international terrorist organization, or any inspiration from them,†Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said.
The shootings marked the deadliest attack on law enforcement since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and renewed the racial wounds that have opened up with increasing frequency across the country in the wake of a series of controversial police shootings.
“There has been a vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement,†said President Obama, who was preparing to cut short his trip to Poland for a NATO summit. “There is no possible justification for these kinds of attacks, or any violence against law enforcement. Justice will be done.â€
Police detonated a bomb robot to kill Johnson after they cornered him in a garage early Friday morning – an unprecedented technique for American law enforcement, but one that troops have used in Iraq to attack targets with mines.
Before his death, Johnson “bantered†with police negotiators, a federal official said, adding that the suspect appeared to have been preparing for the assault, and did not appear nervous. At one point, the gunman had told officials, “The end is coming, and he’s going to hurt and kill more of us,†Dallas Police Chief David Brown said.
“This was a well-planned, well-thought-out, evil tragedy,†the police chief said.
The mayor added: “This was a man we gave plenty of options to, to give himself up peacefully, and we spent a lot of time talking. He had a choice to come out and we would not harm him, or stay in and we would. He picked the latter.â€
Police around the nation went on alert after Thursday’s shooting, with some departments ordering officers to get a partner for their patrols. Isolated shooting attacks on police Friday also raised jitters.
In Valdosta, Ga., a man called 911 on Friday to report a car break-in and then ambushed a police officer that left both the officer and the suspect wounded.
In a separate incident outside Atlanta, a police officer escaped injury Friday when a passing vehicle pulled up and a gunman fired multiple rounds at the officer, all of them missing. A suspect was later apprehended after a brief car chase.
And in a St. Louis suburb, an officer sustained critical injuries after being shot during a confrontation with a motorist. Police said the suspected shooter ran from the scene but was later apprehended.
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Magnus, the 8-year-old son of slain Dallas Police Officer Lorne Ahrens, rides with his father’s coffin during the funeral Wednesday afternoon. Sr. Cpl. Ahrens and four other officers were killed in an attack during a Black Lives Matter protest on July 7.
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Pallbearers carry the casket of Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas on Wednesday afternoon.
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Magnus, the 8-year-old son of slain Dallas Police Officer Lorne Ahrens, speaks to officers after his father’s funeral Wednesday. Sr. Cpl. Ahrens was buried at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.
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Funeral services are held for Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times )
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People line up outside the funeral service for Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.
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Vice President Joe Biden, left, Laura Bush and former President George W. Bush join President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the memorial service in Dallas for five slain policemen.
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Dallas Police Chief David Brown, center, listens as President Obama speaks at the memorial service.
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Police officers from across the country and civilians attend a visitation for slain Police Sgt. Michael Smith at Mary Immaculate Church in Farmers Branch, Texas.
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A crowd gathers before the memorial at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, where President Obama and former President George W. Bush spoke.
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Police officers take part in the “Dallas Strong†candlelight vigil at City Hall on July 11, 2016, in honor of the five Dallas police officers killed last week.
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Police officers at the vigil.
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Kristy Zamarripa, daughter of slain Dallas Police Officer Patricio Zamarripa, is held by her grandmother in front of a photo of the officer at the vigil.
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A woman wipes her tears in a section of seats reserved for family members of the slain police officers.
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Dallas Police Officer Victor Guzman, who was at the sniper shooting scene, holds a candle. His wife, Ciprina, is in front of him.
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Family and friends of fallen police officers take part in the vigil.
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Officer Marc Macklemore tries to remain composed during a memorial for the slain officers at the vigil.
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Heidi Smith, center, wife of slain Dallas Police Officer Sgt. Michael Smith, is comforted by her dauther Victoria, left, as they take part in a candlelight vigil at City Hall on Monday.
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Rick Zamarripa, father of slain Officer Patrick Zamarripa, attends the vigil.
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Five portraits of the officers killed last week are displayed at the vigil.
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Honor guards put up the portraits.
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Community members hold hands in prayer at a Dallas church on Sunday.
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Porsha Jackson, right, speaks during a community meeting at a Dallas church on Sunday.
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Prayers continue to be said July 10 as the memorial in front of Dallas police headquarters continues to grow.
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Dallas police officers wipe tears following a prayer July 10.
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People pray July 10 at Dallas police headquarters.
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Black Lives Matter activists hold hands at a protest July 10 in Dallas.
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Black Lives Matter demonstrators share a group hug with All Lives Matter activists July 10 in Dallas.
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Samuel Barnes, left, who was dispatched with emergency medical services after the Dallas attack, watches a Black Lives Matter demonstration July 10.
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Ella Fest, 3, looks at a makeshift memorial in downtown Dallas on Sunday.
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A wounded Shetamia Taylor, center, tears up as she recalls the Dallas police officers who saved her after she was wounded during a sniper attack Thursday night in which five officers were killed. At the news conference at a Dallas hospital, Taylor is surrounded by her sister, Teresa Williams, her husband, Lavar Taylor, and her children behind her.
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Shetamia Taylor, right, who is recovering after being shot, hugs Angie Wisner, who helped save her son during the deadly attack when a gunman killed five police officers and wounded other officers and civilians in Dallas during a peaceful protest.
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Worshippers come together for a service and town hall meeting at the Potter’s House megachurch in Dallas on Sunday, days after five officers were killed by a sniper during a peacerful Black Lives Matter protest. Bishop T.D. Jakes told the mostly black congregation of the city’s police officers: “When wickedness raised its head, they stood up for our protection.â€
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Saundra Sterling, an aunt who raised Alton Sterling after his mother died, is welcomed by worshippers at the Potter’s House church in Dallas. Alton Sterling was shot to death by police in Baton Rouge, La., last week.
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Elizabeth Holmes, 87, gives out hugs during a service at the Potter’s House church in Dallas, days after five law enforcement officers were killed by a sniper.
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Father Stephen Jasso greets Rick Zamarripa, father of slain police officer Patrick Zamarripa, during Sunday Mass at All Saints Catholic Church in Dallas on July 10, 2016.
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A picture frame with two portraits of slain police Officer Patrick Zamarripa sits on the pew as family members stand to pray during Sunday Mass at All Saints Catholic Church, in Dallas on July 10, 2016.
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Rick Zamarripa, father of slain police Officer Patrick Zamarripa, weeps during Sunday Mass at All Saints Catholic Church in Dallas on July 10, 2016.
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Dallas residents add to the memorial for the slain police officers.
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People give hugs to Dallas police officers standing outside the memorial for slain officers in the recent attacks in Dallas.
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Tasha Lomoglio sits alone as she visits the memorial for slain police officers outside Dallas Police Headquarters.
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A memorial for the slain Dallas police officers.
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Community members pay their respects at the memorial for the slain officers in the recent attacks in Dallas.
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Police officer M. Argumedo shares encouraging words with Brielle Delgado, 8, at the memorial for slain police officers in Dallas, Texas.
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Tasha Lomoglio, of Dallas, pays her respects in front of a growing memorial at the Dallas police headquarters.
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DART Police officers pray in front of the Dallas police headquarters on Saturday. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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DART Police officers pray in front of the Dallas police headquarters on Saturday. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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A woman weeps at a memorial outside the crime scene where 5 police officers were killed and 7 more wounded, in Dallas, Texas.
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Officers are deployed around Dallas police headquarters because of an unspecified threat.
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Officers secure the scene around Dallas police headquarters because of an unspecified threat.
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Police locked down the area around the Dallas headquarters because of an unspecified threat.
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People wait for lock down to be lifter around Dallas police headquarters after an unspecified threat was made.
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Dallas police officers check out an unspecified threat around the headquarters.
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Mourners grieve in front of the Dallas Police Headquarters.
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The MVPz, a Central Texas, Softball Team, pray in front of the Dallas Police Headquarters.
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Assistant Police Chief, Gary Tittle, gets a hug at the Dallas Police Headquarters.
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Seven-year-old Jacob Flanagan greets Assistant Police Chief, Gary Tittle, with his Mom, Jennifer Cobb, in front of the Dallas Police Headquarters.
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Djuana Franklin is consoled by a passerby as she weeps at the memorial for slain police officers in Dallas. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Investigators walk in a formation on Lamar Street to comb through the crime scene outside El Centro College in Dallas where a gunman killed five police officers and wounded seven others.
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People pray in front of a growing memorial at the Dallas Police Headquarters.
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Homeland Security Agent, Ron Miller, of San Antonio, works with his bomb sniffing dog, Mattie, along the Earle Cabel Federal Building in downtown Dallas.
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Rachel Simon embraces her daughter Abigail Simon, 13, as they pay their respects to the slain officers at a memorial outside Dallas Police Department.
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Retired Army Sgt. Chandler Davis, pays his respects at the growing memorial in front of the Dallas Police Headquarters.
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Investigators comb through the crime scene for evidence outside El Centro College on Lamar Street in Dallas where a gunman killed five police officers and wounded seven others.
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Flowers, handwritten notes, balloons, candles and other mementos are left on squad cars parked at the Dallas Police Department in a memorial to the slain officers.
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Djuana Franklin weeps for the slain police officers at a memorial at the Dallas police headquarters.
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Flowers, cards, balloons, candles and other mementos form a makeshift memorial at the Dallas Police Department.
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A large American flag flies at half mast framed by the Dallas skyline in the aftermath of the deadly police shooting.
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Roses are placed on a makeshift memorial near the shooting scene.
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From top left counter clockwise, Fermin Betancourt, Damien Betancourt, 10, Destiny Betancourt, 11, and Police Officer Yuridia Morales pay their respects at the memorial for slain Dallas officers.
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Police Officer Katherine Rhodes, right, embraces Officer Yuridia Morales at a memorial for the shooting victims.
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Flowers, notes, balloons and other mementos are left on squad cars outside Dallas Police headquarters in honor of the slain police officers.
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Shelby Garcia, 16, sticks a hand-written note onto the squad cars meant to memorialize the slain Dallas police officers.
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Kenneth Parsons leans on Veronica Jones as they pay their respects at a memorial for the fallen police officers in Dallas.
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Shelby Garcia, 16, writes a note for the slain Dallas police officers.
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Hand-written personal notes are left to honor the fallen police officers in Dallas.
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Dallas residents join in a “United to Heal†prayer vigil at the Cathedral Guadalupe the day after the sniper attack that left five officers dead.
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An officer wipes a tear as fellow officers adjust flowers left on a police cruiser in front of police headquarters in Dallas. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Daniel Bray embraces Emilie Bedell during an interfaith prayer event in Dallas for the victims of the mass shooting that killed five police officers and wounded seven others.
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Concord Church in Dallas hosts a gathering after the sniper attack on police by Micah Xavier Johnson of Mesquite, Texas.
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DALLAS, TX July 8, 2016 Neftali Davila, of Sallas, prays as her husband Mayte holds their newborn, Mateo, as worshipper attend “A United To Heal Prayer Vigil†at the Cathedral Guadalupe July 8, 2016 following a sniper attack by 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson of Mesquite, Texas. that left 5 officers dead. (Barbara Davidson/Los Angeles Times) (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Stacy Powell, center, prays with others at the Concord Church in Dallas following the police shooting.
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Texas Highway Patrol officers help out in downtown Dallas as investigators look for evidence from the sniper attack on police the night before.
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Eleina Martinez, 5, touches Dallas Police Officer Arnie Pargas’ badge, draped with a black band, at a memorial outside police headquarters.
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Community members pray during an interfaith prayer event for the victims of the mass shooting in Dallas.
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Tani Taylor claps for police officers during an interfaith prayer event for the victims of the mass shooting that killed five officers in Dallas.
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Izzy May sobs during an interfaith prayer service for the victims of the police shooting in Dallas.
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During a news conference Friday, Dallas Police Chief David Brown collects himself while talking about Thursday night’s deadly shooting.
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Noelle Hendrix places flowers near the scene of the shooting in downtown Dallas.
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Investigators document the crime scene outside El Centro College, where a sniper killed five police officers and wounding 7 others in Dallas.
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Investigators examine the crime scene outside El Centro College in Dallas, where a sniper unleashed a barrage of bullets, killing at least five police officers and wounding seven others during a protest over recent police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana.
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Investigators document the crime scene outside El Centro College in Dallas, where a sniper shot 12 police officers, killing five of them.
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Dallas police officers stand guard at a roadblock to the crime scene at El Centro College in Dallas.
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Investigators search the crime scene outside El Centro College in Dallas where a sniper unleashed a barrage of bullets, killing five police officers and wounding seven others.
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A Dallas police officer, who did not want to be identified, takes a moment as she guards an intersection after the deadly shooting.
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Dallas police officers gather downtown after the deadly shooting.
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Dallas police officers face protesters on the corner of Ross Avenue and Griffin Street after the shooting.
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Police officers stand guard at a barracade following the sniper shooting in Dallas.
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Dallas police protest (LM Otero / Associated Press)
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Police stop a driver in downtown Dallas.
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Dallas police stand watch after the shooting.
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Earlier in the day, people rally in Dallas to protest the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in Louisiana and Minnesota, respectively.
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Marchers in Dallas.
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A man lies on the ground after yelling, “Don’t shoot me,†at police during the rally.
(Laura Buckman / AFP / Getty Images) Of the dozen officers shot – 10 men and two women – eight are Dallas police and four are Dallas Area Rapid Transit officers, officials said. Two civilians were also among the injured.
“They know the city is grieving with them,†Rawlings said.
Among those killed was DART Officer Brent Thompson, 34, who had worked for the department since 2009. He was the department’s first officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Among the four Dallas Police Department officers shot was Iraq war veteran and 32-year-old father Patrick Zamarripa, who enlisted just before the Sept. 11 attacks. He was identified on social media by family members.
The names of the other victims had not been officially released Friday afternoon, but local media identified them as Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, 48, Officer Michael Krol, 40 and Sgt. Michael J. Smith, 55.
Rawlings said that when he met with the wounded officers, he expressed support on behalf of the city and also made them a promise: “We’ll get the bad guys.â€
U.S. Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch said federal agencies are cooperating in the investigation.
“We intend to provide any assistance that we can to investigate the attack and also to help heal a community that has been severely shaken and deeply scarred by an unfathomable tragedy,†Lynch said at a news conference in Washington.
“Our hearts are broken by this loss,†she said.
The protest that was underway when the shooting began involved about 800 people marching through downtown and was flanked by about 100 police officers — then the gunfire began.
“It was a peaceful protest, no question about it. The entire thing was peaceful,†said the Rev. Jeff Hood, who had helped organize the demonstration.
He said they were marching in front of several hundred people when he heard rapid-fire gunshots.
“Immediately I looked up and saw two police officers that had gone down,†he said. “I saw it. I mean, I saw people drop. I knew.â€
Outside City Hall on Friday, activists said they did not recognize Johnson or his name, and had never seen him at a protest.
“Never in our wildest dreams would we think our efforts to save lives would take lives,†protest organizer Dominique Alexander said.
At least three other people were taken into custody in connection with the shooting Thursday night, but they were later released.
Officials had initially reported that multiple snipers opened fire on police, but Rawlings said Friday that Johnson was the “lone gunman in this incident,†and federal investigators concurred.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also said he had “no information about any co-conspirators.â€
But he said police are working hard to “button down every corner†before they rule out the possibility that he had help.
“What we don’t know is who, if anybody, may have known what the gunman knew, what he was going to do, may have assisted him in any of his efforts,†the governor said.
At one point, the gunman had told officials “the end is coming, and he’s going to hurt and kill more of us,†Brown said.
Johnson had no ties to terror groups, a U.S. law enforcement official said, but on Facebook, Johnson expressed an interest in black separatist groups such as the New Black Panther Party, the Nation of Islam and the Black Riders Liberation Party, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which describes the organizations as “hate groups.â€
Brown, the police chief, said a hostage negotiator spoke with Johnson at length before he was killed about 2:30 a.m. Friday morning.
“The suspect said we will eventually find the IEDs,†Brown said, a reference to explosives. “He wanted to kill officers. And he expressed killing white people, killing white officers, he expressed anger for Black Lives Matter.â€
“We saw no other option than to use our bomb robot and place a device on its extension to detonate where the suspect was,†Brown said. “Other options would have exposed our officers to grave danger.â€
Brown said reports that the suspect shot himself were incorrect. “The suspect is deceased as a result of detonating the bomb,†he said.
Los Angeles Times staff writers W.J. Hennigan in Washington and Laura Nelson in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
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The shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile – through the eyes of children
UPDATES:
3:35 p.m.: The article was updated with information from a news conference presented by the mayor and the governor.
2:40 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information on what was found in the shooter’s apartment, and with information from the Southern Poverty Law Center.
11:49 a.m.: This article was updated with information from the shooter’s Facebook page.
11:31 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the gunman and comments from those who participated in Friday night’s protests.
9:17 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from U.S. Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch.
8:26 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the shooter.
7:08 a.m.: This article has been updated with an identification of the shooter.
6:59 a.m.: This article has been updated throughout with additional details and background.
This article was originally published at 5:44 a.m.
