Dallas police shooting suspect identified as Micah Xavier Johnson - latest updates
Johnson was killed by a police robot bomb after talks with police broke down
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Here are the latest updates:
- Suspect identified as Xavier Michael Johnson
- Shooter says he 'wanted to kill white people, especially white officers'
- Five police officers dead at Dallas protest
- 12 officers and two civilians injured in 'orchestrated attack'
- Everything we know about the victims
- Video shows gunman moments before shooting police officer in the back
- Suspect in garage standoff killed by police bomb robot
- 'This is now war' - former congressman warns Obama
Snipers opened fire on police officers in Dallas, killing five officers and injuring seven others during protests over two recent fatal police shootings of black men, police said.
One suspect exchanged gunfire with police and was arrested early on Friday morning. A suspicious package was found near the suspect and a bomb squad had begun investigating the threat.
Two others were taken into custody early Friday morning, and during a standoff with police, a fourth told officers bombs were planted all across the city.
After a lengthy standoff with police, the suspect is believed to have been killed by a police bomb robot. Earlier reports suggested he had shot himself.
The shooter said he "wanted to kill white people, especially white officers," Dallas Police Chief David Brown told reporters.
Earlier, the suspect said "more will die" and claimed to have planted explosives throughout the area. No explosives were found in two searches of the downtown area.
The gunfire broke out around 8:45 p.m. Thursday while hundreds of people were gathered to protest fatal police shootings this week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and suburban St. Paul, Minnesota. Police Chief Brown told reporters the snipers fired "ambush style" upon the officers. Mayor Mike Rawlings said one member of the public was wounded in the gunfire.
Protests were also held in several other cities across the country Thursday night after a Minnesota officer on Wednesday fatally shot Philando Castile while he was in a car with a woman and a child. The aftermath of the shooting was livestreamed in a widely shared Facebook video. A day earlier, Alton Sterling was shot in Louisiana after being pinned to the pavement by two white officers. That, too, was captured on a mobile phone video.
Video footage from the Dallas scene showed protesters were marching along a street in downtown, about half a mile from City Hall, when the shots erupted and the crowd scattered, seeking cover.
Chief Brown said that it appeared the shooters "planned to injure and kill as many officers as they could."
President Barack Obama has been briefed on the situation in Dallas, the White House has said.
Mr Obama is in Poland for the Nato summit.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said: "The president has been updated on the shooting of police officers in Dallas. He asked his team to keep him updated on the situation as they get additional information."
Three Dart officers injured in the shootings have been named as Omar Cannon, Misty McBride and Jesus Retana.
All are expected to survive, the Dallas Morning News reports.
In Capitol Hill, people have been barred from entering the building as a security sweep is underway. A "person of interest" has reportedly made it past security with a weapon, according to authorities.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments