He strongly defended the decision of police to use a bomb mounted on a robot to kill the gunman, believed by criminal justice and legal experts to be the first time that U.S. law enforcement has used a remote controlled explosive device to kill a suspect.
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Flanked by civic and religious leaders, Dallas Police Chief David Brown speaks to a crowd attending the vigil for five slain police officers, victims of a sniper attack, at Dallas’ Thanksgiving Square on July 8, 2016.
The chief and the county’s most senior elected official also said Sunday that Micah Johnson had larger attack plans and possessed enough explosive material to inflict far greater harm.
Micah Johnson, the Dallas sniper who killed five police officers, was planning a larger attack but fast-tracked it in view of the recent killings of African Americans.
Before being killed by a bomb-equipped robot, Johnson sang, laughed at and taunted officers, according to Brown, telling them he wanted to “kill white people” in retribution for police killings of black people.
He said another police department will assist with security when Obama visits the city this week. So we ask him, “Do you want to come out safely or do you want to stay there and we’re going to take you down?’ And he chose the latter”.
Delphine Johnson said her son became “gung-ho” and joined the Army after he graduated from high school, but returned to the USA disillusioned after his tour in Afghanistan.
Police killed Johnson using a bomb transported by a robot following an intense stand-off on Friday morning.
“I can just tell you he was clear of mind, determined to hurt more officers”, Brown said. The police said on Saturday they had no choice but to take out Johnson remotely after their efforts to talk him into surrendering ended unsuccessfully.
In Baton Rouge, where Mr Sterling was killed by police, one officer was injured and 102 protesters were arrested, police chief Sid Gautreaux said. Micah Johnson, an Army veteran, opened fire on police officers in the heart of Dallas Thursday, as hundreds of people w.
“We’re sworn to protect you and your right to protest, and we’ll give our lives for it”, Brown said.
“This was a mobile shooter that had a written manifesto on shooting and moving”.
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Detectives are now trying to work out the meaning of Johnson’s blood messages, and are hoping that they’ll help reveal his state of mind.
