Micah Xavier Johnson has been identified by police as the alleged sniper in Dallas who killed five police officers and wounded seven more.
Law enforcement officials reported that Johnson, a 25-year-old resident of the Dallas area, was the suspect killed by police using a “bomb robot” following a standoff in a parking garage.
READ MORE: What we know and don’t know about the ‘ambush’ on police officers
According to The Los Angeles Times, Johnson had no known criminal history.
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.”
Johnson had served in the U.S. Army Reserve and completed a tour in Afghanistan from November 2013 to July 2014, according to the AP. The Army said Johnson was a private first class and his military occupational specialty was carpentry and masonry.
In May 2014, six months into his Afghanistan tour, he was accused of sexual harassment by a female soldier. He was sent stateside because of it, and was supposed to be removed from the Army, but instead received an “honourable discharge” months later, Johnson’s military lawyer told the AP.
Several photos posted to his Facebook page shows him dressed in U.S. Army fatigues and formal military attire.
Police described Thursday night’s attack as a carefully planned “ambush” and said they had taken three people into custody before killing a fourth after a long standoff in a downtown garage.
“We had an exchange of gunfire with the suspect. We saw no other option but to use our bomb robot,” Dallas Police Chief David Brown told reporters Friday morning.
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It is unknown at this time how the three that were arrested were in involved – if at all – in the shootings.
“The suspect said he was upset about Black Lives Matter,” Brown added. “He said he was upset about the recent police shootings. The suspect said he was upset at white people. The suspect stated that he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers.”
READ MORE: Suspect in Dallas police shooting that killed 5 cops ‘wanted to kill white people’
Brown said the suspect told police negotiators he was not affiliated with any group and acted alone.
The attack came during a peaceful protest in Dallas over the killing of two black men by police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and outside Minneapolis earlier this week.
Police were still investigating Friday and believe the gunman who was killed “did some of the shooting,” Brown said.
“We’re working diligently to process the crime scene and find evidence,” Brown said. “If there’s someone out there associated with this, we will find you.”
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said at a press conference that officials now believe Micah Xavier Johnson was a lone shooter.
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Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings says shooting suspect Micah Xavier Johnson was lone shooter -
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Police used a bomb disposal robot to deliver explosive which killed final suspect in Dallas shooting -
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Amateur videos capture chaos during Dallas shooting -
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‘It’s a sniper?’: Shocked Dallas witness captures video of police shootout with gunman -
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Gunfire heard in video as gunman has standoff with Dallas police -
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Amateur video appears to show Dallas gunman firing at police -
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Shootout between Dallas police and suspects caught on camera -
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Cellphone video shows alleged Dallas shooting suspect -
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‘The sniper started shooting and all the cops were getting shot’: Dallas shooting witness
READ MORE: How a Dallas protester became a hunted suspect
Earlier, Mark Hughes was incorrectly identified by police as a “person of interest” in the shooting, and his photo was distributed on Twitter by the Dallas Police Department.
Hughes was seen marching in the protest dressed in camouflage attire and carrying a rifle, which is legal in Texas.
Rawlings said there were about 20 individuals who were dressed in gear and had rifles slung over their shoulders. Police chased and detained these people before realizing all the shooting came from one building at different levels.
Four officers killed in the attack are from the Dallas Police Department. One victim, identified as Officer Brent Thompson, worked for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) authority’s police department.
READ MORE: What we know about the 5 police officers killed
This is an ongoing breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
*With files from the Associated Press
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