DALLAS — Downtown Dallas descended into chaos on Thursday when snipers killed at least five police officers and injured six others in the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since 9/11.
Two unidentified gunmen opened fire on police from an elevated position as anti-violence protesters demonstrated in the city, police said.
The demonstration was held in response to two fatal shootings this week of black men by police officers in Minnesota and Louisiana.
One of the police officers killed was named as Brent Thompson, 43. He is the first Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officer to be killed on duty, KDFW reported.
Witnesses told CNN they saw a gunman with a rifle and wearing tactical gear exchanging fire with police officers at street level outside the El Centro College. Amateur video footage appeared to show the suspect ambushing a man believed to be a police officer and shooting him dead.
One of the suspects was cornered by police in the parking garage and shot himself dead after a standoff, KDFW reported, citing police sources.
Police were inspecting a suspicious package found near the alleged sniper and are investigating his claims that bombs had been left in the garage and throughout the city, according to KDFW.
Police said three suspects were in custody, including a woman arrested close to the parking garage and two men, who were held after they were seen leaving the scene at high speed in a car. Police retrieved two camouflage bags from the vehicle.
The attack is the deadliest on U.S. law enforcement since 9/11, when 71 police officers were killed in New York and one died on United Airlines flight 93.
Investigators were trying establish a motive for the attack.
