The night of July 7 seemed like just another night in downtown Dallas. Hundreds of people were marching peacefully, demanding justice for police violence against African-American citizens. Here you can listen to the podcast.
But what began as a calm demonstration ended in a nightmare. At 8:58 p.m., a lethal shooting broke out: a former U.S. soldier opened fire on police officers, unleashing one of the most tragic nights for U.S. law enforcement in decades.
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The perpetrator was Micah Xavier Johnson, a 25-year-old Army veteran.
Raised in Mesquite, Texas, Johnson had served in Afghanistan and, upon his return, showed signs of radicalization.
Materials indicating sympathy for racially inspired extremist movements, such as Black Identity Extremism (BIE), were found in his home.
However, up to that time, he had no significant criminal record.
The night of terror
That night, armed with a semi-automatic rifle and improvised grenades, Johnson ambushed the agents from a nearby building.
Five policemen were killed and nine others were wounded.
It was the deadliest attack on law enforcement in the United States since September 11, 2001.
The shooting ended hours later, when police used a robot with explosives to neutralize him: a method never before used by a local force in the US. Johnson died at the scene.
Micah Xavier Johnson: Sargento analyzes it
Buzzy
This episode left deep wounds in the country.
It reignited the debate on racial violence, the right to bear arms, veterans’ mental health and the way protests are handled by authorities.
It also represented a turning point in how urban police prepare to respond to complex domestic threats.
In this third episode of Crime Cases with the Sergeant, we look at Johnson’s military and psychological background, his radicalization, the unprecedented tactical response of the Dallas police, and the lasting effects this attack left on both law enforcement and public opinion.
In each episode, the Sergeant analyzes different cases that have shaken public opinion, such as that of influencer Valeria Márquez.
Five police officers were killed and nine others were injured
