Dallas police identified Micah Xavier Johnson, a 25-year-old Army veteran, as the lone gunman in the shooting.
Detectives found bomb-making materials during a search of his home.
Johnson said he was upset about recent police shootings and wanted to kill white people, especially white officers, the police chief said.
Officers detonated a robot bomb to kill Johnson after attempting to negotiate with him.
President Barack Obama called the attack “vicious, despicable, and calculated.”
DALLAS ― A day after a lone gunman shot and killed five police officers and injured another seven during a Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas, marking the deadliest day for police in the U.S. since Sept. 11, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott praised the bravery of the police force and called for a return to normalcy.
Advertisement
The past 24 hours have been “a veritable tale of two cities,” Abbott said in a news conference Friday evening. “On the one hand, it’s been the tale of heroism of police officers. At the same time, it’s been a tale of cowardice by an assassin."
"We need to show that we are not harmed, damaged or altered by this cowardly attack," he added.
The gunman, Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, who was killed by police, was an army veteran who said he “wanted to kill white people, especially white officers,” according to the Dallas Police Department. He had no criminal history, officials said.
The attack, which also injured two civilians, came during a violent week that also saw police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota.
Detectives later searched his house and found bomb-making materials, ammunition, rifles, ballistic vests and a personal journal containing “combat tactics,” officials said.
Johnson “knew how to do his damage, but we did damage to him as well,” Mayor Mike Rawlings said.
Three additional people who had been detained as suspects were released Friday, Abbott said.
Brent Thompson, 43, who worked for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit force, was killed in the attack, as were Lorne Ahrens, 48, Michael Krol, 40, Michael Smith, 55, and Patrick Zamarripa, 32, of the Dallas Police Department.
“We’re hurting. Our profession is hurting,” Police Chief David Brown said. “Dallas officers are hurting. We are heartbroken. There are no words that describe the atrocity that occurred to our city.”
Advertisement
People filled Thanks-Giving Square, in the center of downtown Dallas, midday Friday for a vigil and interfaith service.
“In the end, three things remain ― faith, hope and love. We need all three today,” Rawlings said at the vigil. “We must have faith in each other, in our institutions, we must have hope that tomorrow will be better, and it will. And we must love one another.”
After the vigil ended, the downtown area was essentially empty save for the officers ― wearing black bars over their badges ― posted up on every block. Some lined up to give blood at an impromptu donation clinic inside City Hall.
Advertisement
All signs pointed to the Black Lives Matter demonstration having been peaceful throughout Thursday evening. The police department Twitter account included posts about “men, women, boys and girls” gathered in solidarity, while other photos show officers posing with marchers, including a state senator.
Dramatic video of the shooting showed dozens of officers converging on several buildings in downtown Dallas, including a parking garage. In another, several shots can be heard ringing out as sirens blare in the background.
“It was just an endless stream of gunshots,” Dallas attorney Allison Griswold told The Huffington Post. She watched the atrocity unfold from her living room window and posted videos on Twitter. “I started to see, later on, cops just running towards it as other people started running.”
Rawlings said Friday morning that it was “heartbreaking” to lose the police officers. “To say that our police officers put their lives on the line every day is no hyperbole, it is a reality,” he said. “We as a city, we as a country, must come together, lock arms and heal the wounds that we all feel from time to time. Words matter. Leadership matters at this time.”
President Barack Obama addressed the shootings from Warsaw, Poland, where he’d been attending a meeting with NATO officials.
“There has been a vicious, despicable, and calculated attack on law enforcement,” he said. “I think I speak for every single American when I say that we are horrified.”
In a press conference, Attorney General Loretta Lynch urged unity.
“We must continue to build trust within communities guarantee every person in this country equal justice under the law,” she said. “To brothers and sisters who wear the badge, I am deeply grateful to the dangerous work you do every day. Our hearts are broken by this loss and DOJ will do all it can to support you in days ahead.”
“Today and every day we are one nation, we are one people, and we stand together,” she said.
Hundreds had gathered in cities across the country earlier Thursday to protest this week’s police shootings of Alton Sterling, who was killed outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Philando Castile, who was shot during a traffic stop in Minnesota.
Demonstrators were carrying signs and chanting “no justice no peace” and “hands up, don’t shoot” ― common refrains of the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality.
People take part in a prayer vigil at Thanksgiving Square, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Dallas Police Chief David Brown pauses at a prayer vigil following the deaths of five police officers last night during a Black Live Matter march on July 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas.
LAURA BUCKMAN via Getty Images
Advertisement
Eric Gay/AP
A Dallas police officer receives a hug at the headquarters, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.
LAURA BUCKMAN/AFP/Getty Images
People pray at a faith vigil at Thanks-Giving Square in Dallas, Texas on July 8, 2016, following the shootings during a peaceful protest on July 7 which left 5 police officers dead.
Carlo Allegri/Reuters
Ginny Alexander (R) and her mother Ariel Alexander react behind a police car that makes up part of a makeshift memorial at Police Headquarters following the multiple police shooting in Dallas, Texas, U.S.,July 8, 2016.
Advertisement
Eric Gay/AP
People take part in a prayer vigil at Thanksgiving Square, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas. Five police officers are dead and several injured following a shooting during what began as a peaceful protest in the city the night before.
Carlo Allegri/Reuters
A man raises his hat in prayer during a prayer vigil in a park following the multiple police shooting in Dallas, Texas, U.S., July 8, 2016.
Eric Gay/AP
People take part in a prayer vigil at Thanksgiving Square, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.
Advertisement
Carlo Allegri/Reuters
A Dallas police officer observes a moment of silence after putting some flowers on a police car that makes up part of a makeshift memorial at Police Headquarters following the multiple police shooting in Dallas, Texas, U.S.,July 8, 2016.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
People gather in a prayer vigil following the shooting deaths of five police officers last night during a Black Live Matter march on July 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas.
Eric Gay/AP
Michael O'Mahoney, a former police officer, places his patch on a make-shift memorial at the Dallas police headquarters, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.
Advertisement
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Tony Gutierrez/AP
Chris Bailey walks by a makeshift memorial on Griffin Street holding a sign that reads, "Everybody Love Everybody", Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas.
Max Faulkner/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Getty Images
A memorial near the shooting site in Dallas on Friday, July 8, 2016.
Advertisement
Carlo Allegri/Reuters
A woman holds a U.S. flag during a prayer vigil in a park following the multiple police shooting in Dallas, Texas, U.S., July 8, 2016.
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Advertisement
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Advertisement
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.