The Dallas police chief said Friday that a man who killed one officer and wounded two others in a patrol car in a late-night ambush intentionally tried to shoot officers during a highway chase that ended with an officer shooting and killing the gunman.
Thursday night's shooting brought fresh anguish and anger to a city where a gunman ambushed police in 2016, killing five officers.
Police Chief Eddie Garcia said at a press conference that the suspect, 30-year-old Corey Cobb-Bey, approached Officer Darron Burks as he was parked in his car at a community center between calls, engaged in a brief conversation that was recorded, then pulled out a handgun and “executed” Officer Burks.
“Our officers have been targeted solely because of the uniform they wear and the brave and honorable job they do,” Garcia said.
Police said Cobb-Bey pulled into the parking lot at 10:02 p.m., about two minutes before Burks. After shooting Burks, Cobb-Bey retrieved a shotgun from his own vehicle and placed it on the roof of his patrol car, police said.
At 10:11 p.m., when Burks' co-worker, Jamie Farmer, arrived on the scene to investigate after dispatchers noticed unusual communications from Burks, Cobb-Bey fired a handgun at Farmer, police said. Farmer returned fire, and Cobb-Bey retrieved a shotgun. Farmer was shot once in the leg, police said.
Police said a third officer, Carissa David, arrived a minute later and Cobb-Bey fired multiple rounds at her, and she returned fire and was shot in the face.
Farmer was released from hospital on Friday, but David remains in critical but stable condition.
Police said Cobb-Bey fled the scene and was pursued by other officers to Lewisville, Texas, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Dallas. When Cobb-Bey's vehicle came to a stop on Interstate 35, he got out with a shotgun in his hand and pointed it at officers, police said.
Police said six officers opened fire on Cobb-Bey, who was shot multiple times and died at the scene.
No officers were injured in the shootout.
Garcia said the investigation showed the shooting was premeditated. He said he learned from social media that three days earlier, Cobb Bey had been recorded approaching an unmarked patrol car from an unknown law enforcement agency and asking officers why they were parked there.
Garcia said Cobb-Bey had expressed problems online both professionally and in his personal life and suggested “something” was about to happen.
Police said two shotguns were recovered from the Louisville scene and the .22-caliber handgun and 9mm handgun used by Cobb-Bey were recovered from the first scene.
Burks recently joined the police force after teaching high school math for about 17 years.
He taught at Texans Can Academy, a charter high school in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood of Dallas, from June 2006 until February 2023 and was “not only an outstanding educator but also a mentor to countless students,” Tina Shaw, the school's principal, said in a statement.
“His passion for serving others both as a teacher and as a police officer epitomizes his dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of those around him,” Shaw said.
