Information continues to trickle in concerning the terrible shooting last night [Thursday, July 7] and early this morning in Dallas. The death toll stands at five, all police officers, and there were also seven police officers injured, as well as two civilians injured.
The main suspect, the person doing the shooting, was killed early this morning by the Dallas Police Department. They used a robot-controlled bomb to kill the suspect, after hours of negotiations did not lead anywhere. The police also have three suspects in custody, but they have been uncooperative so far.
Dallas Police chief David Brown, said in a press conference that the suspect said:
“He was upset at Black Lives Matter, [and] said he was upset about the recent police shootings…the suspect [also] said he was upset at white people; the suspect said he wanted to kill white people.”
No information has been released about the individual, and searches will be conducted later today of the suspect’s home and belongings. According to The New York Times, the police chief said there were four people armed with rifles who are believed to have carried out the attacks. They apparently positioned themselves in triangulated locations near the end of the route the protesters planned to take.
This tragic event followed peaceful protests by #BlackLivesMatter activists and others who were upset over the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, both shot by police officers. Those who participated in the rally have condemned the actions of this individual, and stress that the point of the demonstration was to bring people together. The Dallas Police Department had been tweeting pictures throughout the demonstration of officers and marchers standing in solidarity.