A peaceful protest took place in Dallas July 7 to raise awareness of the police killings of Alton Sterling, 37, by Baton Rouge, La., police officers, and Philando Castile, 32, by a Minnesota police officer. At the rally's conclusion, shots rang out.
A total of 10 officers were shot by sniper fire, according to Dallas Police Chief David Brown. An 11th officer was shot during fire exchange with a suspect. Five of the officers are confirmed dead, including Dallas Area Rapid Transit Officer Brent Thompson, 43. According to authorities, this is the worst attack on law-enforcement officers since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when 72 police officers were killed.
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Mark Hughes, a black man carrying an AR-15 assault rifle at the peaceful rally, was targeted as a “person of interest” by Dallas PD. He was interrogated and released, but not before his image was splashed across social and mainstream media, placing his life in danger.
After a protracted standoff, Dallas police said they "neutralized" the suspect, who has now been reported dead. No name or picture of the suspect has been released.
The suspect informed the Dallas police on the scene that there were bombs planted throughout the city and in the parking garage where the sniper shooting took place, according to Police Chief Brown.
Stay up-to-date at The Root.
Also on The Root:
“5 Officers Killed in Dallas Sniper Attack After Black Lives Matter Protest”
“#AltonSterling: 37-Year-Old Man Killed by Baton Rouge Police”
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