Dallas police chief says shooter planned larger attacks on officers
Dallas Police Chief David Brown, front, and Mayor Mike Rawlings take part in a news conference Friday after five officers were killed and more injured in an attack in downtown Dallas on Thursday night.
The Dallas sniper’s home had bomb-making materials and a rambling journal which showed plans for a larger effort to target law-enforcement officers for what he saw as abuse of minorities, according to Dallas Police Chief David Brown.
“We’re convinced this suspect had other plans and thought that what he was doing was right,” Brown said Sunday in an interview on CNN. “He was going to target law enforcement and make us pay.”
The videos of police shootings of suspects in Louisiana and Minnesota “just sparked his delusions to fast-track his plans,” Brown said. “He saw the protest in Dallas as an opportunity to start wreaking havoc on our officers.”
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Magnus, the 8-year-old son of slain Dallas Police Officer Lorne Ahrens, rides with his father’s coffin during the funeral Wednesday afternoon. Sr. Cpl. Ahrens and four other officers were killed in an attack during a Black Lives Matter protest on July 7.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Pallbearers carry the casket of Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas on Wednesday afternoon.
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Magnus, the 8-year-old son of slain Dallas Police Officer Lorne Ahrens, speaks to officers after his father’s funeral Wednesday. Sr. Cpl. Ahrens was buried at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.
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Funeral services are held for Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times )
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People line up outside the funeral service for Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.
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Vice President Joe Biden, left, Laura Bush and former President George W. Bush join President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the memorial service in Dallas for five slain policemen.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Dallas Police Chief David Brown, center, listens as President Obama speaks at the memorial service.
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Police officers from across the country and civilians attend a visitation for slain Police Sgt. Michael Smith at Mary Immaculate Church in Farmers Branch, Texas.
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A crowd gathers before the memorial at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, where President Obama and former President George W. Bush spoke.
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Police officers take part in the “Dallas Strong” candlelight vigil at City Hall on July 11, 2016, in honor of the five Dallas police officers killed last week.
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Police officers at the vigil.
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Kristy Zamarripa, daughter of slain Dallas Police Officer Patricio Zamarripa, is held by her grandmother in front of a photo of the officer at the vigil.
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A woman wipes her tears in a section of seats reserved for family members of the slain police officers.
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Dallas Police Officer Victor Guzman, who was at the sniper shooting scene, holds a candle. His wife, Ciprina, is in front of him.
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Family and friends of fallen police officers take part in the vigil.
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Officer Marc Macklemore tries to remain composed during a memorial for the slain officers at the vigil.
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Heidi Smith, center, wife of slain Dallas Police Officer Sgt. Michael Smith, is comforted by her dauther Victoria, left, as they take part in a candlelight vigil at City Hall on Monday.
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Rick Zamarripa, father of slain Officer Patrick Zamarripa, attends the vigil.
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Five portraits of the officers killed last week are displayed at the vigil.
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Honor guards put up the portraits.
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Community members hold hands in prayer at a Dallas church on Sunday.
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Porsha Jackson, right, speaks during a community meeting at a Dallas church on Sunday.
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Prayers continue to be said July 10 as the memorial in front of Dallas police headquarters continues to grow.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Dallas police officers wipe tears following a prayer July 10.
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People pray July 10 at Dallas police headquarters.
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Black Lives Matter activists hold hands at a protest July 10 in Dallas.
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Black Lives Matter demonstrators share a group hug with All Lives Matter activists July 10 in Dallas.
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Samuel Barnes, left, who was dispatched with emergency medical services after the Dallas attack, watches a Black Lives Matter demonstration July 10.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Ella Fest, 3, looks at a makeshift memorial in downtown Dallas on Sunday.
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A wounded Shetamia Taylor, center, tears up as she recalls the Dallas police officers who saved her after she was wounded during a sniper attack Thursday night in which five officers were killed. At the news conference at a Dallas hospital, Taylor is surrounded by her sister, Teresa Williams, her husband, Lavar Taylor, and her children behind her.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Shetamia Taylor, right, who is recovering after being shot, hugs Angie Wisner, who helped save her son during the deadly attack when a gunman killed five police officers and wounded other officers and civilians in Dallas during a peaceful protest.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Worshippers come together for a service and town hall meeting at the Potter’s House megachurch in Dallas on Sunday, days after five officers were killed by a sniper during a peacerful Black Lives Matter protest. Bishop T.D. Jakes told the mostly black congregation of the city’s police officers: “When wickedness raised its head, they stood up for our protection.”
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Saundra Sterling, an aunt who raised Alton Sterling after his mother died, is welcomed by worshippers at the Potter’s House church in Dallas. Alton Sterling was shot to death by police in Baton Rouge, La., last week.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Elizabeth Holmes, 87, gives out hugs during a service at the Potter’s House church in Dallas, days after five law enforcement officers were killed by a sniper.
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Father Stephen Jasso greets Rick Zamarripa, father of slain police officer Patrick Zamarripa, during Sunday Mass at All Saints Catholic Church in Dallas on July 10, 2016.
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A picture frame with two portraits of slain police Officer Patrick Zamarripa sits on the pew as family members stand to pray during Sunday Mass at All Saints Catholic Church, in Dallas on July 10, 2016.
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Rick Zamarripa, father of slain police Officer Patrick Zamarripa, weeps during Sunday Mass at All Saints Catholic Church in Dallas on July 10, 2016.
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Dallas residents add to the memorial for the slain police officers.
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People give hugs to Dallas police officers standing outside the memorial for slain officers in the recent attacks in Dallas.
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Tasha Lomoglio sits alone as she visits the memorial for slain police officers outside Dallas Police Headquarters.
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A memorial for the slain Dallas police officers.
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Community members pay their respects at the memorial for the slain officers in the recent attacks in Dallas.
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Police officer M. Argumedo shares encouraging words with Brielle Delgado, 8, at the memorial for slain police officers in Dallas, Texas.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Tasha Lomoglio, of Dallas, pays her respects in front of a growing memorial at the Dallas police headquarters.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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DART Police officers pray in front of the Dallas police headquarters on Saturday. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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DART Police officers pray in front of the Dallas police headquarters on Saturday. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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A woman weeps at a memorial outside the crime scene where 5 police officers were killed and 7 more wounded, in Dallas, Texas.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Officers are deployed around Dallas police headquarters because of an unspecified threat.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Officers secure the scene around Dallas police headquarters because of an unspecified threat.
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Police locked down the area around the Dallas headquarters because of an unspecified threat.
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People wait for lock down to be lifter around Dallas police headquarters after an unspecified threat was made.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Dallas police officers check out an unspecified threat around the headquarters.
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Mourners grieve in front of the Dallas Police Headquarters.
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The MVPz, a Central Texas, Softball Team, pray in front of the Dallas Police Headquarters.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Assistant Police Chief, Gary Tittle, gets a hug at the Dallas Police Headquarters.
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Seven-year-old Jacob Flanagan greets Assistant Police Chief, Gary Tittle, with his Mom, Jennifer Cobb, in front of the Dallas Police Headquarters.
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Djuana Franklin is consoled by a passerby as she weeps at the memorial for slain police officers in Dallas. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Investigators walk in a formation on Lamar Street to comb through the crime scene outside El Centro College in Dallas where a gunman killed five police officers and wounded seven others.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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People pray in front of a growing memorial at the Dallas Police Headquarters.
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Homeland Security Agent, Ron Miller, of San Antonio, works with his bomb sniffing dog, Mattie, along the Earle Cabel Federal Building in downtown Dallas.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Rachel Simon embraces her daughter Abigail Simon, 13, as they pay their respects to the slain officers at a memorial outside Dallas Police Department.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Retired Army Sgt. Chandler Davis, pays his respects at the growing memorial in front of the Dallas Police Headquarters.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Investigators comb through the crime scene for evidence outside El Centro College on Lamar Street in Dallas where a gunman killed five police officers and wounded seven others.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Flowers, handwritten notes, balloons, candles and other mementos are left on squad cars parked at the Dallas Police Department in a memorial to the slain officers.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Djuana Franklin weeps for the slain police officers at a memorial at the Dallas police headquarters.
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Flowers, cards, balloons, candles and other mementos form a makeshift memorial at the Dallas Police Department.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A large American flag flies at half mast framed by the Dallas skyline in the aftermath of the deadly police shooting.
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Roses are placed on a makeshift memorial near the shooting scene.
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From top left counter clockwise, Fermin Betancourt, Damien Betancourt, 10, Destiny Betancourt, 11, and Police Officer Yuridia Morales pay their respects at the memorial for slain Dallas officers.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Police Officer Katherine Rhodes, right, embraces Officer Yuridia Morales at a memorial for the shooting victims.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Flowers, notes, balloons and other mementos are left on squad cars outside Dallas Police headquarters in honor of the slain police officers.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Shelby Garcia, 16, sticks a hand-written note onto the squad cars meant to memorialize the slain Dallas police officers.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Kenneth Parsons leans on Veronica Jones as they pay their respects at a memorial for the fallen police officers in Dallas.
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Shelby Garcia, 16, writes a note for the slain Dallas police officers.
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Hand-written personal notes are left to honor the fallen police officers in Dallas.
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Dallas residents join in a “United to Heal” prayer vigil at the Cathedral Guadalupe the day after the sniper attack that left five officers dead.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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An officer wipes a tear as fellow officers adjust flowers left on a police cruiser in front of police headquarters in Dallas. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Daniel Bray embraces Emilie Bedell during an interfaith prayer event in Dallas for the victims of the mass shooting that killed five police officers and wounded seven others.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Concord Church in Dallas hosts a gathering after the sniper attack on police by Micah Xavier Johnson of Mesquite, Texas.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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DALLAS, TX July 8, 2016 Neftali Davila, of Sallas, prays as her husband Mayte holds their newborn, Mateo, as worshipper attend “A United To Heal Prayer Vigil” at the Cathedral Guadalupe July 8, 2016 following a sniper attack by 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson of Mesquite, Texas. that left 5 officers dead. (Barbara Davidson/Los Angeles Times) (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Stacy Powell, center, prays with others at the Concord Church in Dallas following the police shooting.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Texas Highway Patrol officers help out in downtown Dallas as investigators look for evidence from the sniper attack on police the night before.
(Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Eleina Martinez, 5, touches Dallas Police Officer Arnie Pargas’ badge, draped with a black band, at a memorial outside police headquarters.
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Community members pray during an interfaith prayer event for the victims of the mass shooting in Dallas.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Tani Taylor claps for police officers during an interfaith prayer event for the victims of the mass shooting that killed five officers in Dallas.
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Izzy May sobs during an interfaith prayer service for the victims of the police shooting in Dallas.
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During a news conference Friday, Dallas Police Chief David Brown collects himself while talking about Thursday night’s deadly shooting.
(Mark Mulligan / Associated Press)
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Noelle Hendrix places flowers near the scene of the shooting in downtown Dallas.
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Investigators document the crime scene outside El Centro College, where a sniper killed five police officers and wounding 7 others in Dallas.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Investigators examine the crime scene outside El Centro College in Dallas, where a sniper unleashed a barrage of bullets, killing at least five police officers and wounding seven others during a protest over recent police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Investigators document the crime scene outside El Centro College in Dallas, where a sniper shot 12 police officers, killing five of them.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Dallas police officers stand guard at a roadblock to the crime scene at El Centro College in Dallas.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Investigators search the crime scene outside El Centro College in Dallas where a sniper unleashed a barrage of bullets, killing five police officers and wounding seven others.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A Dallas police officer, who did not want to be identified, takes a moment as she guards an intersection after the deadly shooting.
(LM Otero / Associated Press)
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Dallas police officers gather downtown after the deadly shooting.
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Dallas police officers face protesters on the corner of Ross Avenue and Griffin Street after the shooting.
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Police officers stand guard at a barracade following the sniper shooting in Dallas.
Earlier in the day, people rally in Dallas to protest the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in Louisiana and Minnesota, respectively.
(Laura Buckman / AFP / Getty Images)
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Marchers in Dallas.
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A man lies on the ground after yelling, “Don’t shoot me,” at police during the rally.
(Laura Buckman / AFP / Getty Images)
Micah Xavier Johnson, a 25-year-old Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, was killed by a bomb-deploying police robot after a standoff with police. Dallas officials say he was the sole shooter who killed five police officers and wounded seven other people during a Black Lives Matter protest march Thursday night.
During Sunday’s interview, Brown gave new details of his department’s confrontation with Johnson, saying that the suspect had engaged in a mocking two-hour conversation after police had pinned him down in a parking garage.
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“He lied to us, he was playing games, laughing at us, singing, asking how many did he get,” Brown said, saying “he seemed very much in control” and determined to hurt more officers.
Brown confirmed a report that Johnson had insisted on speaking to a black police negotiator, but said that Johnson initially did not believe the cop was black.
“It didn’t matter if he was black, because he was shooting at us,” said Brown, who is also African American. “It did not lead to any kind of peaceful resolution.”
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He said the shooter, apparently wounded, wrote in his own blood on the walls of the parking structure, including the initials “RB.” Brown said police have not made sense of the messages.
The chief said the protest had initially been planned as a “static” rally, not a march and that his officers had needed to scramble to clear intersections once the protesters began a spontaneous walk through downtown Dallas.
Because they had not planned on a march, they had not made security precautions along the route, the chief said.
Johnson took advantage, anticipating the route of the march and taking a position in a high building.
“We were not planning on blocking streets. We had to scramble to block intersections, which did expose our officers to this attack,” Brown said, adding that Johnson changed positions to shoot from different angles, “almost triangulating our officers with this rapid fire.”
He said that Johnson planned to use those military-style tactics, which proved especially deadly: “We don’t normally see this kind of moving and shooting from criminal suspects.”
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“They were in a funnel,” the chief said of his officers. “It ended up being a fatal funnel.”
“They did things that day that are just hard to describe,” he said. “We are learning that officers that day exposed themselves to draw fire so they could see what floor the shooter was on.”
Brown said Johnson was protected behind a brick wall and that police had no chance to get a shot without exposing themselves.
Before giving a news conference at the scene on Thursday, Brown said, he had told his staff to come up with a plan for dealing with the sniper; 15 minutes later, they proposed the robot, which Brown said was armed with a pound of C4 explosive.
“I approved it, and I’d do it again if presented with the same circumstances,” he said, adding that he had no patience for a debate on whether using the robot presented an unwise escalation in police tactics.
He said investigators were still analyzing Johnson’s cellphone, computer and journal and hadn’t ruled out the possibility that Johnson had had help.
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Three people were arrested at the protest; two were released and one was charged with a misdemeanor weapons charge, Brown said. Some protestors carried AR-15 rifles and wore body armor and camouflage, apparently for effect, he said.
“It doesn’t make sense to us, but that’s their right in Texas,” he added.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said those protesters led to some confusion during the shootings. “So it sure took our eye off the ball for a moment,” Rawlings said on CBS’ Face the Nation.
Brown declined to offer an opinion on whether the U.S. needs new gun-control measures. But, as the nation continues to be roiled by protests against police-involved shootings, Brown made an emotional plea for a “silent majority” of the public to express appreciation for officers.
“We are sworn to protect you and your right to protest, and we’ll give our lives for it,” he said. “That’s a tough relationship to be in.”
Joseph Tanfani previously covered the Justice Department and Homeland Security in the Washington, D.C., bureau. Before joining The Times in 2012, he worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he was a reporter and investigations editor, and at the Miami Herald, the Press of Atlantic City and the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. He left in 2018.
