First images of five hero cops shot dead in Dallas as family of one says ‘no father should have to bury his son’
Brave officers were gunned down by former Army reservist while working at a Black Lives Matter rally in Texas
PICTURES of the five police officers gunned down in Dallas on Friday have been released.
Sergeant Michael J. Smith, 55, Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, 48, Michael Krol, 40, Patrick Zamarripa, 32 and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) police officer Brent Thompson, 43, were all shot dead as they guarded a Black Lives Matter rally in the city.
Their killer, a former US Army reservist who told police he wanted to kill whites before he was blown up in a police siege, is thought to have been the sole gunman in the shocking attack.
A total of 12 officers and two members of the public were shot by Micah Xavier Johnson, 25.
Mr Zamarripa's father Rick Zamarripa said: "Most of you already know this by now today in Dallas , 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 maybe more at this moment.
"I'm still at the hospital here in Parkland Hospital to see him be moved to the medical examiner's office - need prayers to get through this."
His stepbrother also delivered an emotional tribute on social media on Friday morning as news of the attack broke.
Dylan Martinez shared a picture of the officer with his dad. It was captioned: “No father should have to bury his son. You are a hero, Patrick. Love you man. #PrayForDallas”.
Brent Thompson is the first officer to be killed in the line of duty since DART formed a police department in 1989.
The Three injured officers have been named as 44-year-old Omar Cannon and 39-year-old Jesus Retana.
Misty McBride, 32, was shot in the arm and once in the stomach.
Her young daughter Hunter McBride has told of her relief that her mum is alive.
She told reporters outside Baylor Medical Centre she had spoken to her mum and told her she loved her.
She added: “I’m just glad she’s alive, really.”
Mum-of-four Shetamia Taylor, a 37-year-old member of the public, was shot in the calf as she tried to save her children.
It has been reported she hid her 15-year-old son under a car in a desperate attempt to save his life.
The other officers who were shot dead or injured are yet to be identified.
Morgan Lyons, a spokesman for DART, said: "As you can imagine, our hearts are broken.
"This is something that touches every part of our organisation."
He added: "We have received countless expressions of support and sympathy from around the world through the evening.
"We are grateful for every message. Thank you."
DART Police officers are licensed peace officers of the State of Texas.
A man who was part of the demonstration - Black Lives Matter - described the scenes as gunfire broke out during the rally.
He said he was walking back to his car when he heard shots, and saw officers fall to the ground.
"All the cops were getting shot," he told .
"I just saw cops bending over.
"There had to have been five or six cops, they were all just getting shot down.
"It was just after the rally, we were just walking back to the car then I heard the shots.
"We were running - they just kept shooting."
Horrifying footage has been released showing the moment one of the officers was gunned down at point-blank range.
In the video, filmed from a balcony opposite, one cop can be seen bravely trying to take on the gunman who is running towards him firing shots.
He desperately tries to hit back, but his shooter dodges the bullets and continues to deliver a series of blows as the cop is seen collapsing by a pillar.
The attacker then carries on his spree of terror.
President Barack Obama spoke before the shootings to plea for calm.
He said: "There is a big chunk of our fellow citizenry that feels as if because of the colour of their skin they are not being treated the same - and that hurts.
"That should trouble all of us.
"This is not just a black issue - or Hispanic- this is an American issue that we should all care about. All fair-minded people should be concerned.
"Let me just say we have extra app and respect for the vast majority of police officers who put their lives on the line to protect us everyday. It is dangerous job. It is a tough job."
Speaking from Poland at a NATO summit, President Obama said called the shootings a "tremendous tragedy".
He said: "We still don't know all the facts but what we do know is that there has been a viscous, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement.
"They were doing their jobs, keeping people safe.
"Today is a wrenching reminder of the sacrifice they make for us.
"We are horrified over these events
";We stand united with the people and police department in Dallas
"Anyone involved in these senseless murders will be held accountable and justice will be done."
"Our focus should be on the victims and families - they are heartbroken
"The entire city of Dallas is grieving
"Say a prayer for the families, keep them in your thoughts."
The president will be returning to the States from his European tour on Sunday, a day earlier than planned, to visit the city.
"The president has accepted an invitation from Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings to travel to Dallas early next week," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.
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