Dallas Officer Killed: What to Know
- Dallas police officer Darron Burks was killed in a shooting overnight in Oak Cliff. Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia said the attack was premeditated and Burks was executed.
- Two other officers were injured in a gun battle with the suspected shooter after a pursuit. One of the wounded officers is said to be in critical condition and the other is stable.
- Police killed the suspected shooter after a chase. He was identified Friday as Corey Cobb-Bey.
- The suspect's mother told NBC 5 Investigates she was having difficulty believing what police say happened.
- The initial shooting took place at about 10:10 p.m. Thursday on the 900 block of East Ledbetter Drive. The pursuit ended in Lewisville, on the 1000 block of Stemmons Freeway, at about 10:45 p.m.
- Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has asked that flags in the city be flown at half-staff.
A rookie Dallas police officer killed in a shooting outside a community center in Oak Cliff Thursday night was "executed" in a premeditated attack by a "coward," the city's police chief says. Two other officers sent to check on the injured officer were also targeted and were wounded in a gun battle with the suspected shooter. Police say the gunman was fatally shot after a highway chase that ended in Lewisville.
Dallas police said officers were dispatched to an "officer in distress" call in the 900 block of East Ledbetter Drive, outside the For Oak Cliff Community Center, just after 10 p.m. Neighbors in Oak Cliff told NBC 5 they heard a flurry of gunfire. Around a dozen gunshots were heard at about 10:12 p.m. in a home surveillance video obtained by NBC 5.
"When our officers arrived, they found a Dallas police officer who had been shot in his marked patrol vehicle," said Kristin Lowman, director of communications at the Dallas Police Department.
Get top local stories in DFW delivered to you every morning. >Sign up for NBC DFW's News Headlines newsletter.
Lowman said responding officers were injured in an exchange of gunfire with a person. That person then led officers on a chase into Lewisville, about 30 miles away. Police said the man stopped, got out of his vehicle holding a shotgun, and was fatally shot by officers near Interstate 35E and Business Texas 121.
All three Dallas police officers were taken to two local area hospitals. One of the officers is in stable condition, one is in critical condition, and one officer, Darron Burks, died from his injuries.
"As a department and as a family, we are devastated," Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia said. "Last night we lost a brother, a hero. Officer Darron Burks was a son, a nephew, a friend to many, and he was senselessly tragically murdered in the line of duty."
On Friday morning, Garcia tweeted, "No words." in reference to the shooting.
The chief shared more details at a news conference Friday afternoon where he said bluntly that Burks was not ambushed but had been "executed" by a "coward" who targeted him only because of the uniform he wears.
Garcia said Corey Cobb-Bey arrived at For Oak Cliff at 10:02 p.m. and parked his Buick in the parking lot. Two minutes later, Burks, who was between call assignments, arrived and parked near the front entrance. Garcia said Cobb-Bey approached him on foot and talked with him briefly while recording a video on his mobile phone. Garcia said that within a matter of seconds, Cobb-Bey suddenly pulled out a gun and fatally shot Burks as he sat in his vehicle.
"I know that the word ambush has been thrown around in the last 24 hours or so," Garcia said. "That's not what happened here. Officer Burks was executed."
Garcia said investigators have learned that within the last week, Cobb-Bey posted several videos online where he claimed police officers in an unmarked black SUV were following him. In another video, Cobb-Bey confronted who he thought were police officers in an unmarked white SUV, asking if everything was OK or if crimes were going on that the community should be aware of.
The chief said the attack on a Dallas police officer was premeditated and that Cobb-Bey posted a message online hinting that something was coming.
Dallas Officer Killed
Garcia said a police dispatcher noticed an unusual transmission from Burks's radio and that he wasn't responding to attempts to contact him. The dispatcher located Burks by GPS and sent officers to check on him.
Meanwhile, Garcia said Cobb-Bey returned to his vehicle and got a shotgun. Cobb-Bey then placed the gun on Burks's roof and waited.
At 10:11 p.m., Sr. Cpl. Jamie Farmer arrived at the community center to check on Burks and was immediately met with gunfire. Farmer, Garcia said, returned fire and ran across the parking lot. Cobb-Bey, Garcia said, then grabbed the shotgun and fired at Farmer once as he continued to run. Farmer was hit once in the leg.
At 10:12 p.m., Sr. Cpl. Karissa David arrived and parked her squad car at the entrance to the parking lot. Cobb-Bey ran toward David and shot at her multiple times as she got out of her vehicle, Garcia said. David returned fire and was shot at least once in the face during the exchange.
"We came close to losing other officers, officers who put their lives on the line to protect their brother. It is by the grace of God they are still with us today," Garcia said. "Our officers were targeted for nothing more than the uniform they wear and for the brave and honorable job that they do."
Garcia said a sergeant arrived and spotted Cobb-Bey standing near his vehicle. The sergeant directed the next arriving officer to follow Cobb-Bey, who drove away toward Interstate 35E.
Cobb-Bey was followed at least 25 miles to Lewisville, where he stopped on the highway near Texas 121. Cobb-Bey got out of his vehicle with his shotgun in his hand and pointed it toward the officers who chased him. Garcia said police officers Nathaniel Baker, David Lem, Corie Reed, Richard Pace, Vladmir Perez, and Joel Portillo all fired on Cobb-Bey, hitting him multiple times.
Cobb-Bey died at the scene, and no other injuries were reported.
Garcia said Farmer, who was hit in the leg, was treated and released from the hospital on Friday. David, whose injury to her face was more severe, remains in critical but stable condition.
Dallas police said four guns were recovered: two shotguns in Lewisville, including a .22-caliber handgun and a 9mm handgun at the community center. Garcia said all of the guns were legally owned.
Garcia said some surveillance video and dashcam footage will be released on Monday, but it will not include video showing the officer's murder.
The investigation is ongoing and is being investigated by the Dallas Police Special Investigations Unit. The Dallas County District Attorney’s office was notified and responded to the scene; they will conduct their own investigation. The Office of Community Police Oversight was notified.
SLAIN OFFICER IDENTIFIED AS DARRON BURKS
Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia identified the officer killed Thursday night as Darron Burks.
Burks, according to a post on his Facebook page, graduated from the Dallas Police Department police academy on Dec. 15, 2023. Before becoming a police officer, Burks spent 17 years in education as a teacher with Texas Can Academies.
Garcia said he saw photos shared online Friday of him shaking Burks's hand during his graduation from the academy last December.
"It hurts. I gave him his badge. He was so proud. Of course, it hurts," Garcia said. "As I tell my recruits, you do this job long enough, and you're going to laugh together, you're going to bleed together, you're going to cry together. There's a briefing room, a detail room of officers that worked with him that are hurting ... you ask your men and women to do a job for this city, they do it. You carry that. I carry that. I don't know what else to say. It hurts."
Texans Can Academies said Burks served the community as an educator from 2006 to 2023, teaching math, coaching instructional teams, and mentoring students.
"His commitment to education and the community profoundly touched the lives of countless students and colleagues," Texas Can Academies said in a statement Friday. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and the Dallas Police Department during this difficult time. His legacy of service will be deeply missed."
According to his LinkedIn profile, Burks graduated from Paul Quinn College in 2006 with a bachelor of science in mathematics. He was president of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, and worked with Young Life and the Boy Scouts of America. His Facebook profile indicated he attended Lake Highlands High School in Dallas.
Garcia said he met with both injured officers, Burks's third-watch shift and his mother, who he assured that her son would be remembered as a hero.
'IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE,' SUSPECTED GUNMAN'S MOTHER SAYS
In a call with NBC 5 Investigates, Sheila Cobb, the mother of Corey Cobb-Bey (AKA Corey Cobb) said she was stunned to hear that police said her son was the shooter.
"It's unreal for me right now because of the type of person he was. It's hard for me to believe what they said happened because of his character. It's hard for me to believe he did any of the things they say he did,” she told NBC 5.
Cobb said her son told her a few nights ago that he was driving around and was being followed by a black car that he believed was the police. He told his mother the vehicle was following him everywhere.
NBC 5 Investigates reviewed a Facebook page that appears to belong to Cobb. A video posted on that page one day ago showed him behind the wheel of a car and referring to “demons” following him in a black vehicle.
"He got kind of paranoid and came home to his Dad and was crying about it,” Sheila Cobb told NBC 5 Investigates. Cobb said her son believed that it was the police following him but that she did not believe her son had any mental health issues.
Cobb-Bey also posted another video on Facebook one day ago indicating he believed drones were tracking him. Four days ago, he posted a video in which he recorded himself approaching a white unmarked police SUV and questioning officers about why they were in his neighborhood.
On his Facebook page, he described himself as a “Moorish American National.” He is often seen in photos and videos wearing a Moorish fez and frequently posts with the hashtag #moorishamerican.
In a news conference Friday afternoon, Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia said the department is investigating whether Cobb-Bey was part of the Moorish Sovereign Citizens ideology. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the Moorish Sovereign Citizens as “a collection of independent organizations and individuals that are an offshoot of the anti-government sovereign citizens movement.” The SPLC said members of the movement have engaged in violent confrontations with law enforcement.
Cobb-Bey frequently used the hashtags #Moors and #MoorishAmerican on social media. In one Facebook post in 2022, he shared a US State Department letter that indicated Moorish Americans are not exempt from paying US taxes. However, it’s not clear from the social media posts whether Cobb-Bey viewed himself as a member of the Moorish Sovereign Citizens.
TWO OFFICERS TREATED FOR INJURIES AFTER SHOOTING
Overnight, dozens of police officers gathered outside Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and Methodist Dallas Medical Center in a show of support for the injured officers.
"Our department is hurting. We have officers who are injured, who are in the hospital, and we lost one of our own," said Lowman. "We ask tonight, and this morning, for the thoughts and prayers of our city for not only those who are recovering in the hospital but for the fallen, for their family and their loved ones, and for us as a department as well."
According to the Dallas Police Department, the death of the officer Thursday night is the 94th line of duty death in the department's history and the ninth since four officers were killed in a series of ambush attacks on July 7, 2016.
CANDLELIGHT VIGILS PLANNED FOR FALLEN DALLAS POLICE OFFICER
Two vigils were organized for Friday night to memorialize the police officer killed late Thursday in Oak Cliff.
One candlelight vigil was organized at the For Oak Cliff Community Center on Ledbetter Drive in Dallas. The vigil started at 7:04 p.m., but people were asked to arrive at 6:30 p.m. and to bring candles if they wanted to participate.
A second candlelight vigil was planned at Winners Smokehouse on U.S. Highway 67 in Cedar Hill. The vigil began at 7:11 p.m., though people were asked to arrive at 6:30 p.m.
CONDOLENCES, MESSAGES OF SUPPORT FOR DALLAS POLICE
Area police departments, elected leaders and others from around North Texas have expressed their condolences over Thursday night's shooting. A collection of some of those remarks can be read below.
DALLAS CHIEF OF POLICE EDDIE GARCIA
Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia, who has often talked about the dangers his officers face daily confronting gun violence tweeted, "No words."
FOR OAK CLIFF COMMUNITY CENTER
"Last night, For Oak Cliff received the devastating news that Dallas police officer ... tragically lost his life, following a shooting that occurred late after hours in the parking lot of our community campus. Two other officers were also injured, with one currently in critical condition. Our hearts go out to the families, loved ones, and colleagues of these brave officers during this incredibly difficult time. While this tragic incident occurred at our campus, we want to emphasize that it was a random and isolated event. We are fully cooperating with local authorities as they continue their investigation. For Oak Cliff remains steadfast in our commitment to serving our community and will not be deterred from our mission. We will continue our work with compassion, impact and resilience, even in the face of such heartbreak."
U.S. REP. JASMINE CROCKETT
After learning of the officer's death, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, said we must do more to address gun violence across the country. "I am heartbroken to learn of the fatal shooting … and I stand alongside the people of Dallas in support of his family and friends grieving his loss. I am praying for the speedy recovery of the injured officers and for the safety of our community in Oak Cliff. We must do more to address the epidemic of gun violence in our country. I pray for healing, but I am working towards action to stem the tide of these tragedies."
TEXAS GOV. GREG ABBOTT
Gov. Greg Abbott posted on X about the officer's murder Friday morning saying, "Texas grieves with the family & loved ones of the Dallas police officer killed in the line of duty last night. Cecilia & I pray for the swift recovery of the 2 officers who were injured protecting their fellow Texans. Our hearts are with @DallasPD & the entire Dallas community."
DALLAS MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON
"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," Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said in a statement. "This is devastating. In Dallas, we put public safety first. 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. And 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 time to come together and lift each other up as we mourn our fallen."
DALLAS CITY MANAGER KIMBERLY TOLBERT
Dallas interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said the city was mourning and that people can't take for granted out courageous the city's first responders are.
"On behalf of the city of Dallas, I want to express my deepest condolences and full support to the family of our fallen Dallas police officer. We cannot take for granted how precious life is and how courageous our first responders are to selflessly take the oath to protect and to serve. I would also like to extend our thoughts and full support to the two officers who were wounded. We are praying for your recovery," Tolbert said. "The city of Dallas is a family, and as we mourn the loss of one of our own, I ask that you continue to support and lift up the entire Dallas Police Department in prayer over the next several days and weeks. May God bless and keep them and may God bless the city of Dallas."
DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS
"Please join me in prayers for the two officers recovering, the loved ones of the fallen officer and all the brave men and women who protect us," Jenkins tweeted.
FORT WORTH POLICE
"We grieve alongside our brothers and sisters with the Dallas Police Department as they mourn the loss of one of their officers, who was tragically shot and killed," the Fort Worth Police Department said in a statement on X. "Our hearts go out to the officer's family and the entire department during this incredibly challenging time. We stand with you. We will never forget."
ARLINGTON POLICE
In Arlington, the police department tweeted "We join the DFW community in mourning the loss of the Dallas PD officer who was killed overnight -- and praying for the full recovery of the two DPD officers who were injured. Our hearts are with our brothers and sisters at DPD, as well as the officers' friends and families." Arlington's Chief of Police, Al Jones, tweeted "The men and women of @Arlington PD send their love, prayers, and condolences to our brothers and sisters @Dallas PD -- and to the family and friends of the officers affected by this tragedy. @DPDChiefGarcia, if there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to give me a call."
FRISCO POLICE
The Frisco Police Department also tweeted a statement saying, "Our PD family sends thoughts of strength and support to our brothers and sisters with the Dallas Police Department, and we pray for the recovery of the officers that were wounded."
IRVING POLICE
In Irving, the department said on X, "Early this morning, the Dallas Police Department tragically lost an officer, as two others remain in the hospital recovering from injuries. The Irving Police Department sends our thoughts and prayers to the entire department and their families."
