Johnson, an army veteran who had served in Afghanistan, received instruction at the Academy of Combative Warrior Arts in the Dallas suburb of Richardson about two years ago, said Justin J Everman, the school’s founder and chief instructor.
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After the hours-long standoff with law enforcement, Jonson was killed by officers who detonated a bomb delivered by robot, which appears to be the first time the tactic was employed.
“He thought what he was doing was righteous and believed he was going to make us pay for what he saw as law enforcement’s efforts to punish people of colour”.
The Dallas ambush on Thursday marked the single biggest loss of life for law enforcement in the United States since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
Micah Johnson’s chilling shooting spree came after the deaths of two black men at the hands of police.
Johnson had told authorities he was upset about the fatal police shootings of two black men earlier in the week and wanted to exterminate police, “especially white officers”, the Associated Press reported. He also confirmed a report that the suspect was only willing to talk with a black police negotiator, and was distrusting of the officer’s race. “We are learning that officers that day exposed themselves to draw fire so they could see what floor the shooter was on”.
Dallas police sent out an alert Saturday about an unspecified threat and asked news media not to broadcast live near the headquarters for the safety of officers. He said that after the shootings began and people were running everywhere, the group was arrested as a precaution.
“I think that this killer had some delusions”, he said.
Dallas Police said its officials – using dogs – searched the parking lot but the hunt turned up nothing.
Officers said that they were searching for a “man” in the garage, but did not immediately offer further details.
SWAT teams were deployed, and officers were sweeping a multistory parking garage close to the headquarters.
“He seemed very much in control and very determined to hurt other officers”, the police chief said.
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Thousands marched in USA cities overnight on Friday, and there were nasty scenes in Phoenix, Arizona, where police used pepper spray to disperse stone-throwing protesters.
