On July 7, 2016, Micah Xavier Johnson, a black male, targeted and ambushed a group of white police officers in Dallas, Texas, shooting and killing five officers, and injuring nine others after posting racist rhetoric on social media. Two civilians were also wounded.
Killing anyone based on racial hatred is evil. Micah Xavier Johnson purposefully target white officers. He was clear in his hate for white police officers and white people. His actions were a hate crime, and racism is a cancer that destroys. Dr. King said that he wished for people to “be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” he expressed his wish for people to be judged for who they are. He hoped for people to judge others based on deeper, more individual qualities than their race.
The shooting was the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement since the September 11, 2001 attacks, surpassing two related March 2009 shootings in Oakland, California, and a November 2009 ambush shooting in Lakewood, Washington, which had each resulted in the death of four police officers and the shooting deaths of both suspects. It was the second-deadliest targeted attack of U.S. law enforcement officers in history; and the largest since the Young Brothers massacre of 1932 resulted in the deaths of six law enforcement officers in Missouri.
The officers killed were identified as:
- DPD Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, age 48, who had been with the department since 2002 and formerly served with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department from 1991 to 2002.
- DPD Officer Michael Krol, 40, who had been with the department since 2003.
- DPD Sgt. Michael Smith, 55, a former Army Ranger who had been with the department since 1989.
- DART Officer Brent Thompson, 43, a former enlisted Marine who had been with the department since 2007. Thompson was the first DART officer to be killed in the line of duty since the department’s inception in 1989.
- DPD Officer Patricio “Patrick” Zamarripa, 32, a former Navy sailor and Iraq War veteran who had been with the department since 2010.
Please join us in prayer for the family members of these brave law enforcement officers, sons, husbands, fathers, siblings, and selfless servants. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.” John 15:13. Please pray for Micah Xavier Johnson’s family.
Following the ambush killing, Point 27 donated 3,000 Shields of Strength Thin Blue Line Dog Tag necklaces to the Dallas Police Department, one for each officer. The Thin Blue Line Dog Tag necklaces serve two purposes. First, they are a tangible means of showing gratitude and appreciation to the recipient. Second, they are physical reminders that we are never alone, God is with us always. Point 27 gave family members of the Fallen Officers a Folded Flag Necklace engraved with John 15:13 in honor of their loved one.
