Here's Everything We Know About the Victims of the Dallas Attack

Micah X. Johnson opened fire on police & protesters during an anti-police brutality demonstration. Here's everything we know about the victims' attack in Dallas

Officer Brent Thompson

Image via NBC DFW / DART

Officer Brent Thompson

When Micah Xavier Johnson opened fire on police and protesters during an anti-police brutality demonstration in Dallas Thursday, panic ensued. Though early details were scarce, we now know that the sniper attack ultimately took the lives of 5 police officers and injured several others, including civilians. Of the 5 officers who were slain, four of them served with the local Dallas Police Department, while NBC DFWreports the fifth worked for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). 3 victims have been officially identified thus far.

Officer Brent Thompson

Brent Thompson, 43, joined the DART force in 2009. According to a statement confirming his passing, Thompson is the first DART officer to have ever been killed in the line of duty. "As you can imagine, our hearts are broken," a DART spokesperson said. "This is something that touches every part of our organization. We have received countless expressions of support and sympathy from around the world through the evening. We are grateful for every message."

Speaking with MSNBC Friday morning, DART Chief James Spiller called Thompson a "great' officer. "He has served admirably during his time here at DART," he said. Thompson, who had previously served as an international police liaison in Iraq, had been married to a fellow transit officer within the past 2 weeks. In their statement, DART officials confirmed that the 3 other injured DART officers were expected to make a full recovery from injuries sustained during the attack.

Officer Michael Krol

Michael Krol, 40, joined the Dallas Police Department in 2007 after previously working as a jail guard in Michigan. Speaking with reporters Friday, Krol's uncle Jim Ehlke described him as a person with a "passion for helping" others. Being a police officer, Ehlke said, was Krol's life goal. "He spent some time at the correctional facility," Ehlke toldWDIV-TV. "It wasn't quite what he was looking for, so he worked pretty hard to find a job and got one in Dallas," Ehlke said. "He was all in, he was all in."

Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, where Krol was formerly employed, issued a statement on his passing Friday. "Those officers made the ultimate sacrifice and died honoring their oaths to protect and serve," Napoleon said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and also the Dallas Police Department."

Officer Patrick Zamarripa

Patrick Zamarripa, 32, joined the Dallas Police Department in 2011 after serving three tours in Iraq. "He comes to the United States to protect people here," Zamarripa's father, Rick, told the Washington Post Friday. "And they take his life." The father texted Zamarripa immediately after learning of the shootings in Dallas, but heard nothing back. Shortly after reaching out to Zamarripa's longtime partner, Kristy Villasenor, the family received word that they should make their way to the hospital. Villasenor had been at a Rangers game with her and Zamarripa's 2-year-old daughter when she got the call.

According to his father, Zamarripa's "entire adult life" was spent serving and protecting others. After serving multiple tours in Iraq, Zamarripa joined the Dallas police force. Greg Wise, who knew him from their time together at Naval Air Station Pensacola, said the decision to become a police officer was an admirable one. "He was just tired of being away from the people he loved," Wise told the Post. "He wanted to go back and serve his community."

This post will be updated.

Latest in Life