7/8/16 Dallas – Like most, my immediate reaction was shock, grief, despair, (see Previous…). But after watching and reading as many reports as I could, early into early Friday Morning, I fell asleep about 4:30 A.M.  I went to bed hearing about ‘Multiple-Snipers’, ‘Triangulating’ fire at Police Officers, and later in the day hearing – ‘No; it appears the Shooter acted alone’.

 I awoke about 2 hours later to a busy day which did not include much News contact. After 6:30 P.M. I began to see and hear about this ‘Lone Shooter’ Theory. Wait, What…? My initial reaction to that news was that we’d heard before, in Dallas, that in spite of what was first thought to be Multiple Shooters, was actually a Lone Gunman. It actually took me a few years, after lengthy investigation of all available material on the subject, to concede the possibility. To this day my opinion of the JFK Assassination in Dealy Plaza, (just a few blocks from Thursday Night’s tragedy), is – ‘well, maybe. I suppose’.

I understand that in ‘the fog of war’, rapid-fire from an automatic rifle echoing through the canyons of Downtown Dallas, multiple wounded and dead victims, a crowd of about 1,000 people screaming and fleeing in horror, could be mistaken for multiple shooters. I suppose.

There was the matter though, of the NY Times and other reliable News sources reporting that 3 other suspects had been ‘Arrested’ as part of the investigation. Then there came conflicting reports as to the status of these Suspects. Some sources said they had been cleared and released. Others reports stated they were still in Custody, while others said they had been released, but not ‘Cleared’ of any possible involvement.

On Friday Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown said that the primary suspect, Micah Johnson, a U.S. Army Afghanistan, Combat Trained Vet, was killed by a remotely-operated Explosive Device. Johnson had reportedly posted to FB, ties to The New Black Panther Party, and had promoted Violence against Whites and specifically Jews.

Police Chief Brown also stated that Micah Johnson had espoused further violence during the Police stand-off, and said ‘The end was near’, and that he’d planted Bombs around the Downtown Dallas vicinity. Chief Brown also reported that a search of Johnson’s residence had uncovered a variety of weapons, explosives, and Combat Gear.

As to further involvement by others, Brown said at the time, that he was ‘’not satisfied that we’ve exhausted every lead”, according to the NY Times. For his part, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings offered no comment regarding other suspects or on-going investigation.

So we end up with a Police Chief who’s not convinced the investigation is complete, a Mayor providing no further information, and a Suspect who was blown-up by a bomb.

So far, we’ve once again been presented by Texas Law Enforcement and Civil Authorities with an opportunity to draw our own conclusions. What could possibly go wrong?

One conclusion is clear. As stated by former Secretary Hillary Clinton, (like her or not), - ‘Too many people are dead who shouldn’t be’. Including Black American Victims of Police Violence, and Law Enforcement Officers in Service to their communities. Dreadful.