Today marks 10 years since a gunman ambushed and killed five law enforcement officers in downtown Dallas on July 7, 2016, during a Black Lives Matter protest.
The shooting began around 8:58 p.m. near Main and Lamar streets as officers provided security for the march protesting recent police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota. Micah Xavier Johnson, a 25-year-old Army Reserve veteran, opened fire from an elevated position, killing four Dallas Police Department officers and one Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer before fleeing.
The officers killed were Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens, Officer Michael Krol, Officer Patrick Zamarripa, Officer Michael Smith of the Dallas Police Department, and Officer Brent Thompson of DART Police. Nine other officers and two civilians were wounded in the attack.
Johnson was cornered in a parking garage near El Centro College after a hours-long standoff. Dallas Police ended the threat by using a robot to deliver an explosive device.
The ambush shocked the nation and prompted widespread mourning in Dallas. A large interfaith memorial service was held days later at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, attended by then-President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush.
In the years since, the city has held annual ceremonies to honor the fallen officers. Their names are inscribed on the Dallas Police Memorial wall, and the department continues to remember their service. The event led to discussions on police-community relations, mental health support for officers, and public safety measures during protests.
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