Police in Dallas, Texas, are dealing with the loss of rookie officer Darron Burks, killed in the line of duty during a “targeted” attack.
“He was an incredible individual,” Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia told “Fox & Friends First” Friday. “He epitomized what it meant to wear that uniform … he chose this profession as a calling, and that calling chose him.”
The shooting, which happened on the evening of Aug. 29 near the Oak Cliff Community Center, killed Burks and wounded two other responding officers. The suspected shooter, identified as Corey Cobb-Bey, 30, was killed during a shootout with police after a chase on the highway.
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Officer Darron Burks, 46, was killed in a shooting in Oak Cliff, and two other responding officers were injured on Thursday, August 29, around 10 p.m. (Dallas Police Department)
Garcia said Burks was between calls, pulled into a parking lot when Cobb-Bey approached and opened fire moments later. Garcia said a dispatcher did an “incredible job” recognizing what was happening through Burks’ radio transmission.
At a news conference following the shooting, Garcia said Burks and responding officers were “targeted” by Cobb-Bey.
“Our officers were targeted solely because of their uniform and the courageous and honorable work that they do,” he said. “I want to be clear here, the word ‘ambush’ has been used wildly over the last 24 hours. That is not what happened here. Officer Burks was executed.”
Garcia said Burks was a teacher for 17 years before joining the academy last year. His funeral will be held Saturday at Watermark Church in Dallas. Garcia expects the services to be “very well attended.”
“He was only a police officer for about a year and a half, but he left such an impact not only on this department — he lived an incredible life. His fellow academy members yesterday at the vigil — he was older when he came into the academy — they all looked up to him and said he was the best representative of their class, and they’re going to miss him,” Garcia said.
“His loss and his sacrifice strengthen us, make us stronger. And we owe him everything.”
Master Corporal Jamie Farmer, who was shot by Cobb-Bey after arriving on the scene, has been released from the hospital, FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth reported. Master Corporal Marissa David, who arrived a minute later, is currently in critical condition at the hospital after being shot in the face by Cobb-Bey.
Fox News’ Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
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