Among Dallas Officers Killed, One Was a Father, Another a Newlywed
One of the Dallas officers killed in an ambush-style attack overnight got married just two weeks ago to a fellow officer. Another was the father of a toddler daughter. A third had been a police officer in Michigan.
These and other details are emerging about the officers killed by sniper fire overnight during a protest in Dallas against police brutality. Five police officers were killed in the shooting, including a Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officer.
At least three other transit officers who were injured in the shooting have also been identified.
Officer Brent Thompson, 43, was the city’s first mass-transit officer killed in the line of duty since DART’s formation in 1989. He joined the department in 2009, according to a statement released by the agency.
DART grieving the loss of Ofc Brent Thompson, 43, killed during Thurs protest. First DART officer killed in line of duty. Joined DART 2009.
— dartmedia (@dartmedia) July 8, 2016
Thompson was a newlywed, according to the agency’s chief, James Spiller. “I talked with him shortly after his marriage,” he told ABC News. “He was a great officer, doing those things that we expect of police officers and this particular case doing what he was supposed to be doing — monitoring the protest as well as taking care of our customers at our transit center.”
Gutierrez/AP Sherie Williams, left, and Theresa Williams, center, speak to reporters outside Baylor University Medical Center, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Dallas, Texas. Theresa Williams said her sister Shetamia Taylor, was shot in the leg.
Patrick Zamarripa/Twitter Officer Patrick Zamarripa was confirmed as one of the five police officers killed during a protest in Dallas, Texas, July 7, 2016.
Dallas Police Officer Patrick Zamarripa was also killed in the shooting last night. His father, Rick Zamarripa, posted on Facebook, “My son is a police officer in Dallas he was working there the rally in downtown where my son was shot and killed by a sniper along with four other police officers … Need prayers to get through this.” He also posted a picture of his son apparently walking with his toddler daughter.
Wayne County Sheriff’s Department Officer Michael Krol has been identified as one of the five police officers shot and killed, July 7, 2016, at a protest in Dallas, Texas.
Officer Michael Krol was identified as one of the deceased by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan, where worked before joining the Dallas Police Department.
Two other officers killed in the shooting have not yet been publicly identified.
Three other DART officers were injured, including Omar Cannon, 44; Misty McBride, 32; and Jesus Retana, 39.
Spiller said the injured officers were “doing great” and that one has been released from the hospital.
“We’ve just received an outpouring of support throughout the North Texas region, the state of Texas, throughout the United States, as well as looking at Canada and looking at London, England, from members of the police profession,” he told ABC News. “We still have our heads held high, but we’ve taken a gut punch.”
Spiller said that officers escorted Thompson’s body to a funeral home.
“As you can imagine, our hearts are broken,” DART said in a statement. “This is something that touches every part of our organization. We have received countless expressions of support and sympathy from around the world through the evening. We are grateful for every message. Thank you.”
