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A lone gunman – identified as Micah Xavier Johnson – killed five police officers and wounded seven others in Dallas Thursday night during an otherwise peaceful demonstration against the police shootings of two African American men, Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, earlier in the week.
VIDEO GALLERY: Ongoing coverage of the tragedy in Dallas
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Flags lowered to half-mast to pay tribute to officers shot in Dallas -
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Toronto police offer condolences after Dallas shootings -
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Dallas mayor talks faith, hope and love following recent deadly shootings -
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Micah Xavier Johnson identified as alleged Dallas shooter -
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Aerial footage shows Dallas shooting scene with police cars still present -
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Dallas sniper ‘wanted to kill white people’: Police chief -
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‘I need to get outta here’: Dallas shooting witnesses describe chaos -
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Dallas police salute fallen officers -
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Dallas mayor says he will stand behind his chief when it comes to security at future protests -
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Dallas police chief begs the public for support following deadly shootings -
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Dallas police chief praises the bravery of his officers following deadly shooting -
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Police chief reads alleged comments from final suspect in Dallas police shooting -
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Police used a bomb disposal robot to deliver explosive which killed final suspect in Dallas shooting -
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Dallas police chief: We’re hurting, our profession is hurting
Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown described the violence as an “ambush-style” attack on the officers which also injured two civilians.
“We still don’t know all the facts. What we know is there has been a vicious, calculated and despicable attack against law enforcement,” President Obama told reporters in Poland. “Police were on duty doing their jobs, keeping people safe during peaceful protests.”
As details from the tragedy continue emerge here’s what we know, and still don’t know about the shootings in Dallas.
How the shootings began
WATCH ABOVE: Dramatic recording of Dallas 911 dispatch captures chaos as shooting unfolded
Gunfire erupted around 8:45 p.m. Dallas time during a peaceful protest over the high-profile deaths of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota, who were shot and killed by police earlier this week.
The chaos unfolded near El Centro College in the city’s downtown area and just a few blocks from where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
READ MORE: How a Dallas protester became a hunted suspect
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings says officials believe the attacker was a lone shooter. Three others were arrested but how they’re connected to the shooting – if at all – has not been revealed.
“It is a heartbreaking moment for the city of Dallas,” Rawlings said. “I ask everybody to focus on one thing right now, and that is Dallas police officers, their families, those that are deceased, those that are in the hospital fighting for their lives.”
Who is the suspect Micah Xavier Johnson?
Law enforcement officials have identified 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson as the one who carried out the shootings.
He had no criminal record or ties to terror groups and was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve who had served a tour in Afghanistan, according to the Associated Press.
When authorities searched the home of Johnson on Friday they found bomb-making materials, ballistic vests, rifles, ammunition, and a personal journal of combat tactics. Among his Facebook “likes” were the African American Defence League and the New Black Panther Party, which was founded in Dallas. He also was a member of the Facebook group “Black Panther Party Mississippi.” A photo on Facebook showed Johnson wearing a dashiki – his raised, clinched fist over the words “Black Power.”
READ MORE: Suspect in Dallas police shooting that killed 5 cops ‘wanted to kill white people’
Johnson died after a firefight with police late Thursday night in a parking garage. Police Chief David Brown said Friday he was killed by an explosive delivered by a robot.
Brown said the Johnson told police negotiators that “he was upset about Black Lives Matter.”
“He said he was upset about the recent police shootings,” Brown told reporters. “The suspect said he was upset at white people. The suspect stated he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers.”
Who were the 5 officers killed?
The official Twitter account of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) confirmed one of the officers killed was a transit officer saying, “Four DART police officers were shot in downtown Dallas. 1 deceased, others not life-threatening.”
The deceased DART officer has been identified as 43-year-old Brent Thompson. He joined the force in 2009.
DART Chief James Spiller told TODAY on Friday that Thompson was a great officer who served as a patrol officer.
“Brent was recently married in the last two weeks, so this is very heartbreaking for us, not only for that reason, but because we lost a member in blue,” Spiller said.
Michael Krol has also been identified as one of the fallen officers.
A native of Michigan, Krol moved to Dallas in 2007 to join the city’s police department.
“He always wanted to be a cop,” Brian Schoenbaechler, Krol’s brother-in-law, told The Detroit News. “He always wanted to help and serve other people.”
Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, 48, was identified by friends and family on social media as one of the Dallas police victims.
Ahrens served with the Dallas Police Department for 14 years, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Patrick Zamarripa was identified by family members as one of the five officers killed. The 32-year-old father had previously survived three tours in Iraq for the U.S. Navy and had a 2-year-old daughter.
WFAA also identified Michael Smith, 55, as one of the victims.
READ MORE: What we know about the 5 police officers killed
What we don’t know
WATCH ABOVE: Man wrongfully identified as suspect in Dallas shooting speaks out
During a press conference Friday, Police chief Brown said investigators believed that Johnson “did the shooting.”
However, It’s still unknown how the attack was planned and whether the three other men who were apprehended were involved in the shooting.
“If there’s someone out there associated with this, we will find you,” Brown said
*With files from the Associated Press
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