A targeted attack on Dallas police officers left one officer dead, another fighting for her life, and a third injured.
The ambush occurred Thursday evening in a Dallas parking lot. According to Fox 4, at approximately 10:02 p.m, Corey Cobb-Bey, 30, approached Officer Darron Burks, 46, who was parked in the lot of the For Oak Cliff Community Center on Ledbetter Road.
Cobb-Bey engaged Burks in conversation through the officer’s window while recording the interaction on his phone.
“The suspect then pulled out a handgun and executed Officer Burks as he sat in his vehicle,” said Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia.
When dispatchers heard a strange noise and were unable to contact Burks, they dispatched officers to his GPS location.
Dallas Police Senior Corporal Jamie Farmer arrived at the parking lot at 10:11 PM and was immediately fired upon by Cobb-Bey. As Farmer attempted to cross the lot, Cobb-Bey retrieved a shotgun he had placed on top of Burks’ patrol vehicle and shot Farmer in the leg.
Senior Corporal Karissa David arrived at 10:12 p.m. As she exited her squad car, Cobb-Bey rushed toward her, firing his gun and shooting her several times, including a shot to the face that halted her return fire.
As additional officers arrived, Cobb-Bey fled, prompting a police pursuit along Loop 12 and onto I-35E, as captured by TXDOT cameras.
The chase ended in Lewisville, where Cobb-Bey exited his vehicle while brandishing a shotgun. He advanced towards the officers and aimed his weapon at them. The officers returned fire, fatally wounding Cobb-Bey. No officers were injured during the final confrontation.
ABC 8 reported that officers discovered a social media video posted by Cobb-Bey on Tuesday, where he approached officers in an unmarked vehicle and questioned their presence.
“Is there any problem, officers?” Cobb-Bey asked.
“No,” one officer replied.
“Is there any criminal activity we need to be aware of?” Cobb-Bey inquired.
“All good, man,” an officer inside responded.
“OK, thank you,” Cobb-Bey said before walking away.
Cobb-Bey also posted online, hinting that something significant would occur on Friday.
Chief Garcia suggested that Cobb-Bey planned the attack based on his numerous social media rants. “Our officers were targeted by this coward,” Garcia said during a police briefing. “For no other reason than the uniform we wear… that my men and women proudly wear.”
CBS News reported that Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson released a statement Friday morning:
“Dallas has lost a hero. We all grieve with the officer’s family today, and we pray for a full and swift recovery for the two officers who were wounded.”
“This is devastating. In Dallas, we prioritize public safety. We stand up to violent criminals. We ask our police officers to do dangerous work so the rest of us can sleep peacefully. These dedicated public servants do so with grace, honor, respect, humility, and extraordinary courage.
“This attack on three of our protectors is nothing short of an attack on our city, our families, and our way of life. We must continue their work to stop violence in our communities. We must never forget their sacrifice. And we must take the time to come together and lift each other up as we mourn our fallen.”
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[Feature Photo: Officer Darron Burks/Dallas PD]
