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9:45 p.m. PST: Earlier this evening, the Dallas Police Department reported a shooting at a Black Lives Matter rally in the city. The rally was reportedly being held to protest the recent deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile and draw attention to racial disparities in the criminal justice system. The Dallas Police Department stated that two snipers shot at police present at the rally:
According to CNN, the rally was being held “about two blocks from Dealey Plaza” and bystanders recounted hearing gunshots. “Whoever was shooting had an assault rifle — and I know guns,” said one witness. “The shots were in rapid succession.”
MANY gunshots heard in video I captured in #Dallas, just before 9p as rally marched through downtown @wfaachannel8 pic.twitter.com/1O3GB0b9xx
— Marie Saavedra (@MSaavedraTV) July 8, 2016
While initial reports stated that three officers had been killed with several others wounded, the Dallas Police Department soon tweeted that a fourth officer had died. They also stated that two people were in police custody:
Update: pic.twitter.com/qBJe3q0EtN
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) July 8, 2016
While police initially described one of those in custody as a suspect, going so far as to share his photo, they now describe him as “a person of interest.”
More updates will be posted as the story develops.
—Posted by Emma Niles