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Dallas police shooting: officials identify suspect killed in standoff – live Dallas police shooting: officials identify suspect killed in standoff – live
(35 minutes later)
5.03pm BST
17:03
As we wait for the US attorney general to speak about attacks that killed six Dallas police officers Thursday evening, we are learning more about those killed in the attack.
Transit officer Brent Thompson, a 43-year-old grandfather, was married last month. Patrick Zamarripa, 32, received tributes on social media: ‘You are a hero’
Here’s more from The Guardian’s Joanna Walters:
Thompson joined the division in 2009. The Dart chief, James Spiller, said, “He was an outstanding patrol officer as well as a rail officer.”
Thompson married a fellow Dart officer just last month, said Spiller on NBC Today. A statement from Dart said: “Our hearts are broken.” A picture was posted on Twitter of Thompson with his grandson.”
Zamarripa, meanwhile, had written on social media that he was “addicted” to the excitment being a police officer.
One post from his stepbrother, Dylan Martinez, read: “No father should have to bury his son. You are a hero, Patrick. Love you man….”
He was described as a family man and a military veteran.
On Zamarripa’s Twitter page, he had written: “Addicted to the thrill of this job. I own the night. I love my Country, Texas, Family, God, Friends, and Sports! Don’t Tread on Me! ’Merica.”
On the Fourth of July, Zamarripa posted a patriotic tweet, saying: “Happy Birthday to the greatest country on the face of this planet . My beloved America!”
4.53pm BST
16:53
US Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s upcoming press conference will stream here, for those who would like to watch with us.
4.48pm BST
16:48
Former President George W Bush, a Texas native, said he and wife Laura Bush are “heartbroken by the heinous acts of violence in our city last night.” The Bushes also own an estate in Dallas.
We join our fellow citizens in saluting the fine law enforcement officers in Dallas and across the country who put their own lives in the line to keep all lives safe.”
Former Pres. George W. Bush on #Dallas shooting: "Laura and I are heartbroken by the heinous acts of violence." pic.twitter.com/JqFBhkEFwM
4.33pm BST
16:33
Bernie Sanders has also tweeted about last night’s attack in Dallas, calling it “despicable”.
The attack on police officers in Dallas last night is horrifying and despicable. We must as a nation stand against violence of all kinds.
4.31pm BST
16:31
In the next few minutes, we’re expecting US Attorney General Loretta Lynch to begin a press conference.
Afterward, organizers of the march in Dallas, Next Generation Action Network, will speak about last night’s attack.
Updated
at 4.35pm BST
4.26pm BST4.26pm BST
16:2616:26
The Guardian is working to clarify the number of shooters involved in last night’s attack in Dallas, during anti-police violence protests.The Guardian is working to clarify the number of shooters involved in last night’s attack in Dallas, during anti-police violence protests.
Dallas police chief David Brown told reporters Thursday evening that two snipers fired on officers “from elevated positions.”Dallas police chief David Brown told reporters Thursday evening that two snipers fired on officers “from elevated positions.”
However, Brown said Friday morning that a shooter told police he acted “alone” and was not affiliated with any organizations.However, Brown said Friday morning that a shooter told police he acted “alone” and was not affiliated with any organizations.
4.18pm BST4.18pm BST
16:1816:18
AP identifies Micah Johnson as a Dallas shooterAP identifies Micah Johnson as a Dallas shooter
The Associated Press has identified 25-year-old Micah Johnson as a shooter involved in the attack in Dallas Thursday evening.The Associated Press has identified 25-year-old Micah Johnson as a shooter involved in the attack in Dallas Thursday evening.
Five police officers were killed and six wounded during an anti-police violence protest.Five police officers were killed and six wounded during an anti-police violence protest.
Texas official tells AP that a slain suspect in the attack on #Dallas police was 25-year-old Micah Johnson. https://t.co/WFfHp2ARoKTexas official tells AP that a slain suspect in the attack on #Dallas police was 25-year-old Micah Johnson. https://t.co/WFfHp2ARoK
4.06pm BST4.06pm BST
16:0616:06
The National Rifle Association, America’s largest firearms lobby, released a statement on the five police officers shot and killed and seven injured in Dallas, Texas.The National Rifle Association, America’s largest firearms lobby, released a statement on the five police officers shot and killed and seven injured in Dallas, Texas.
The statement does not address recent attempts at, or calls for, gun control legislation in Congress.The statement does not address recent attempts at, or calls for, gun control legislation in Congress.
On behalf of the more than 5m members of the National Rifle Association, and especially on behalf of our members from the law enforcement community, I want to express the deep anguish all of us feel for the heroic Dallas law enforcement officers who were killed and wounded, as well as those who so bravely ran toward danger to defend the city and the people of Dallas.”On behalf of the more than 5m members of the National Rifle Association, and especially on behalf of our members from the law enforcement community, I want to express the deep anguish all of us feel for the heroic Dallas law enforcement officers who were killed and wounded, as well as those who so bravely ran toward danger to defend the city and the people of Dallas.”
Statement from the @NRA on last night's #Dallas shootings: pic.twitter.com/XGXWaGFk12Statement from the @NRA on last night's #Dallas shootings: pic.twitter.com/XGXWaGFk12
3.55pm BST3.55pm BST
15:5515:55
Watch more of Dallas police chief David Brown’s press conference, where he told the media that the shooter wanted to “kill white people” and “especially white officers.”Watch more of Dallas police chief David Brown’s press conference, where he told the media that the shooter wanted to “kill white people” and “especially white officers.”
3.50pm BST3.50pm BST
15:5015:50
Congressional Black Caucus: “This will be a long hot summer.”Congressional Black Caucus: “This will be a long hot summer.”
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have just called strongly for a vote on gun control legislation, referencing the killing of five police officers in Dallas, Texas and shootings of young black men in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and St Anthony, Minnesota.Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have just called strongly for a vote on gun control legislation, referencing the killing of five police officers in Dallas, Texas and shootings of young black men in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and St Anthony, Minnesota.
“Republicans – what on earth? – why are you recalling and not giving us a debate on gun violence?” said Representative GK Butterfield, a North Carolina Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “Why not give us a hearing? Give us an up or down vote on our legislation on gun violence – why?”“Republicans – what on earth? – why are you recalling and not giving us a debate on gun violence?” said Representative GK Butterfield, a North Carolina Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “Why not give us a hearing? Give us an up or down vote on our legislation on gun violence – why?”
Butterfield said he met with Washington DC anti-violence protesters at around 10pm Thursday, walking out of the capitol to meet them and walk to the White House.Butterfield said he met with Washington DC anti-violence protesters at around 10pm Thursday, walking out of the capitol to meet them and walk to the White House.
“We spoke to them, we embraced them and we helped lead their march to the White House,” he said. He said the protesters were willing to, “pull off the bandaid of the stain of irresponsible police killings in America.”“We spoke to them, we embraced them and we helped lead their march to the White House,” he said. He said the protesters were willing to, “pull off the bandaid of the stain of irresponsible police killings in America.”
“If we fail to act, this will be a long hot summer.”“If we fail to act, this will be a long hot summer.”
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus demand action against gun violence. pic.twitter.com/NIgHUGuPV3Members of the Congressional Black Caucus demand action against gun violence. pic.twitter.com/NIgHUGuPV3
3.38pm BST
15:38
“Justice will be done,” said Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. “It’s been a long month for America.”
Every member of this body, every Republican and every Democrat wants to see less gun violence. Every member of this body wants a world in which people feel safe, regardless of the color of their skin, and that’s not how people are feeling these days.”
House minority leader Nancy Pelosi also told her colleagues and viewers, “We are all horrified.”
3.23pm BST
15:23
We’re now listening to leaders of the House speak about the events in Dallas, and also anticipating a press conference by the Congressional Black Caucus.
3.17pm BST
15:17
Tom Dart
The Guardian’s Tom Dart is on-scene in Dallas. Here’s his view, 11 hours after shooting began in the Texas city, not far from Dealey Plaza, where President John F Kennedy was assassinated.
Jeff Hall, a 53-year-old architect, walked out of the Donut Palace, a yellow police cordon immediately to his left. On the other side of the tape, seven yellow plastic triangles on the sidewalk appeared to mark the location of blood stains.
Hall bought a box of two-dozen doughnuts to give to police. He lives on the 21st floor of a nearby tower block and was alerted to the incident last night when he saw a helicopter hovering outside his window.
“It’s like, what the fuck is a helicopter doing?” he said. Beneath was a roiling sea of flashing lights. “I looked down, it looked like the city was covered in molten lava,” he said.
Charles Wilson, who was nearby when shooting started, said police and protestors began gathering at about 5pm and there had also been a small protest Wednesday.
“It sounded like firecrackers but it wasn’t firecrackers, it was bullets, and the cops started saying ‘Go the other way, go the other way!,’” the 55-year-old, who works at the downtown convention center, said.
He walked along the light-rail tracks to evade the scene, as best he could when officers swarmed the area. “It was like everybody was in a box, you couldn’t go nowhere,” he said. “It was basically like something out of a movie.”
Wilson, who is black, said that there is an element of racial tension when white police interact with African-American people in some neighborhoods, but Dallas is no Ferguson.
“All the stuff going on round the country hadn’t happened here,” he said. Still, this is a city notorious for, and partially defined by, a shocking act of violence 53 years ago.
2.39pm BST
14:39
Oliver Laughland
To reiterate, five police officers were shot and killed and six injured in what appears to be a coordinated attack that targeted police officers in Dallas, Texas.
One suspect, who was cornered by officers for several hours, was killed when police detonated a bomb near the suspect after negotiations broke down.
The attack was carried out during a protest against police shootings attended by about 800 people.
The protests were spurred by shooting deaths of two black men in Louisiana and Minnesota. Their deaths were captured on camera, reigniting criticism of police.
Here’s more from The Guardian’s Oliver Laughland:
Dallas police chief David Brown told reporters at an early morning news conference: “The suspect said he was upset about Black Lives Matter,” during negotiations. “He said he was upset about the recent shootings, he was upset at white people. The suspect said he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers.”
“The suspect said that he was not affiliated with any groups and he stated that he did this alone. The suspect said other things that are part of this investigation,” Brown said.
A further three suspects are in police custody, but authorities declined to provide any further details.
Five police officers were killed and six injured as gunman opened fire on police from elevated positions during a protest in downtown Dallas. Two civilians were also injured.
The shooting marked the deadliest attack on law enforcement since 9/11 and threatened to inject yet more tension into the already divisive debate over racial disparities in US policing.”
2.25pm BST
14:25
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings also told reporters that an interfaith prayer vigil will be held at 1pm ET.
Police chief David Brown asked people to “pray” for the families who lost loved ones, including the five police officers shot and killed in the attack.
“Please, we need your support to be able to protect you from men like these, who carried out this tragic, tragic event. Pray for these families.
“I spoke with the families of the deceased and the injured. They are not having a good time trying to deal, absorb this, trying to understand why, and they need your prayers.”
2.23pm BST
14:23
Both Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and police chief David Brown emphasized that protests were peaceful, until the “ambush.”
Rawlings said that “we believe” in free speech. “These were peaceful protests”.
Brown said the shooter in En Centro told police he was not affiliated with any organization, and that he perpetrated the attack “alone”.
Brown went on to say that police officers protect democracy, called the ambush the work of a “coward”. Brown said Americans won’t alter the country’s democracy out of fear of these sorts of attacks.
“Our country is better than that.”
2.13pm BST
14:13
“All I know, is this must stop, this divisiveness between our police and our citizens,” said Dallas police chief David Brown.
Later in the press conference, Brown said, “We don’t feel much support most days. Let’s not make today most days.”
2.10pm BST
14:10
The mood of the press conference in Dallas was measured but somber. Dallas police chief David Brown told reporters:
“We’re hurting. Our profession is hurting. Dallas officers are hurting. We are heartbroken.”
He paused briefly, and told the media, “There are no words to describe the atrocity that occurred to our city.”
Bomb squad robot killed Dallas sniper who was motivated by shootings, targeted white cops https://t.co/m78edgz6UK pic.twitter.com/5fiIdtUyPt
2.04pm BST
14:04
Dallas officials said shooter wanted to 'kill officers'
Officials in Dallas just held a press conference about the shooter with whom police were negotiating for hours. Here’s what they told reporters:
1.57pm BST
13:57
Responding to a question about the shooter’s mental stability, Dallas police chief David Brown said:
He wanted to kill officers, and he expressed killing white people. He expressed killing white officers. He expressed anger for Black Lives Matter.
None of that makes sense. None of that is a legitimate reason to do harm to anyone.
Updated
at 2.01pm BST