Over 1,000 attend candlelight vigil for Dallas police officers killed in 8 July shootout

Houston: Over 1,000 people gathered to attend a candlelight vigil in honour of the victims of last week’s sniper attack in which five police officers were killed at a protest decrying police shootings of African Americans. Portraits of the five slain officers were propped up in front of the speaker’s platform surrounded by flowers.

Five police officers were shot dead and seven others injured in a “ambush style firing” by snipers in Dallas during a late night demonstration protesting the fatal police shootings on Friday, making it one of the deadliest days for police in US law enforcement history.

The shooting began near one of the busiest parts of the city’s downtown, filled with hotels and restaurants. The four police officers who were killed were identified as Patricio Zamarripa, Brent Thompson, Michael Krol, Lorne Ahrens and Michael Smith.

Dallas Police Association president Ron Pinkston read out each name and asked officers to serve in the memory of the fallen heroes. Dallas Area Rapid Transit chief JD Spiller said if someone thought last week’s violence would tear apart the city, “they were wrong,” adding that the state of Texas must lead on race relations in America.

Five officers were selected to speak on behalf of the victims. Dallas police officer Josh Rodriguez, Zamarripa’s partner, said it was important people know those taken were more than officers. He also thanked Dallas Fire-Rescue for  their sacrifice. “We will miss you but we will never forget you,” he said.

“Thank you Michael Krol for being a great friend,” said senior officer Jaime Castro, struggling to find words to describe Ahrens, who he called a hero. “Lorne, I know you’re up there listening, brother. I want you to know that I was outside the window when you took your final breath,” he said. “You weren’t alone, I had your back as you had ours,”

Senior officer Marcella St John, Smith’s longtime partner, said they will continue to protect and serve the city Smith loved so much. “We are sad, we are overwhelmed, we are in disbelief and yes, we are angry,” said St John. “But we do have choices. We can choose to let the anger fester inside of us, dragging us down to a better place. Or we can direct it toward good and fostering an environment of hope,” she said.