DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – The five police officers who killed when a sniper opened fire on them at a rally protesting recent police shootings have been identified.
Sgt. Michael Smith, 55, served as an Army Ranger. He leaves behind his wife of 17 years and two teenage daughters, according to WFAA-TV.
Brent Thompson, 43, had been a DART Transit Officer since 2009. He is the first DART officer killed in the line of duty. Thompson served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He got married just two weeks ago.
A third officer killed in the attack was identified as Michael Krol, 27. He had been with DPD since 2007. He served as a corrections officer in Detroit before moving to Dallas.
The fourth officer to be identified was Patrick Zamarripa, 32. He was a five-year veteran of the Dallas police force and served three tours in Iraq with the Navy, according to the Associated Press. He leaves behind a wife and two-year-old daughter.
Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens was a 14-year veteran of the department.
Seven other officers were wounded, and most have been released from the hospital, officials said Friday.
Three of the wounded officers were identified as: Omar Cannon, 44; Misty McBride, 32; and Jesus Retana, 39. All three are with the DART police unit.
The gunman was identified as Micah Johnson, 25. Police searched his home in Mesquite. Detectives reported finding “bomb making materials, ballistic vests, rifles, ammunition and a personal journal of combat tactics.”
Police Chief David Brown said Johnson expressed a desire to kill white people, especially white police officers. Brown also said Johnson was angry over recent police shootings and the Black Lives Matter movement. Johnson was killed when a robot detonated a bomb in the area where he was holed up.
Portions of the crime scene in the downtown area will remain closed until Wednesday.
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