Former President George W. Bush said Friday that his family is “heartbroken” by the killing of five police officers at a Black Lives Matter rally in Dallas, where he and his wife Laura reside.
“Laura and I are heartbroken by the heinous acts of violence in our city last night,” Mr. Bush said in a statement. “Murdering the innocent is always evil, never more so than when the lives taken belong to those who protect our families and communities.”
“Laura and I have seen firsthand the dedication, professionalism, and courage of the Dallas Police Department,” his statement continued. “Their commitment to safety and justice makes us proud to call Dallas home. Our hearts go out to the families of the fallen. We pray for the wounded officers to recover fully and quickly.”
Mr. Bush praised Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Police Chief David Brown, as well as “all our city’s leaders and public servants who continue to organize an effective response to this tragedy.”
“And we join our fellow citizens in saluting the fine law enforcement officers in Dallas and across the country who put their own lives on the line to keep all lives safe,” he concluded.
Five police officers were shot dead and seven others were injured in a sniper ambush Thursday night at the conclusion of a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Dallas. During a standoff with police, a suspected gunman said he “wanted to kill white people, especially white officers,” before he was subsequently killed, authorities said.
Three suspects were reportedly taken into custody. It was still unclear Friday how many people were involved in the attack.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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