Dallas police officer killed in shooting: Here’s what we know (2024)

A shooting in southeast Oak Cliff left a Dallas police officer dead and two others injured Thursday night. The suspect led authorities on a chase to Lewisville before being shot by police.

“Our officers were targeted by this coward,” Dallas police Chief Eddie García said during an emotional news conference on Friday afternoon.

Hundreds have attended memorials and vigils for the officer killed, Darron Burks. His funeral is planned for Saturday.

Here’s what we know.

What happened and where was the shooting?

The shooting occurred outside a community center called For Oak Cliff in the 900 block of East Ledbetter Drive. Officer Darron Burks stopped there during a break between assignments, García told reporters during the news conference.

Corey Cobb-Bey, whom police have since identified as the shooter, had parked nearby a few minutes before, García said. Cobb-Bey walked up to Burks’ marked police vehicle, spoke with him briefly through the driver’s side window, then pulled out a gun and shot him, García said.

A police dispatcher noticed an unusual transmission from Burks’ radio, and police used GPS to locate Burks and sent officers to investigate.

Senior Cpls. Jamie Farmer and Karissa David responded within 10 minutes, and Cobb-Bey fired on them with a shotgun, García said. Farmer, who was hit in the leg, returned fire and ran. David was shot in the face as she exited her vehicle but also returned fire, the chief said.

Dozens more police units responded to the assist officer call, according to an online police call log.

The wounded officers were taken to hospitals. Other officers chased the suspect.

A suspect is dead

The suspect drove toward Lewisville and was pursued by Dallas police officers north on Interstate 35E. Just north of State Highway 121 Business about 10:40 p.m., according to authorities, the suspect got out of his car with a long gun and multiple Dallas police officers fired on him, killing him.

With the highway shut down, police officials searched the vehicle, an empty white Buick that appeared to have shattered back windows and a flat back tire.

Police recovered two shotguns at the Lewisville site and two handguns at the Dallas shooting scene, which Cobb-Bey had legally obtained, García said Friday.

On Monday, police released 45 seconds of dash-camera footage showing Cobb-Bey stopping his vehicle before being fatally shot.

Dozens of Dallas police officers wait at the hospital

Burks was taken to Methodist Dallas Medical Center. At about 1:15 a.m., dozens of Dallas police officers waited quietly outside the emergency room entrance. Police squad cars lined the blocks leading up to the hospital, their emergency lights flashing.

At about 3:15 a.m., Dallas police spokeswoman Kristin Lowman announced that the officer, not yet publicly identified, had died.

“Our department is hurting,” Lowman said in the early hours Friday. “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 our fallen, for their family and for their loved ones, and for us as a department as well.”

In a post on X early Friday, García said “No words.”

Flags at all city facilities will be flown at half-staff, according to a statement from Dallas police.

Who are the DPD officers?

Burks, 46, was fatally wounded in the gunfire, his mother, Cherie Jeffrey, told The Dallas Morning News when reached by phone Friday morning. Burks was a former school teacher who’d just completed police training.

A candlelight vigil was held to honor Burks at For Oak Cliff on Friday evening, and continued at Winners Smokehouse in Cedar Hill.

A celebration of life for Burks will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Watermark Community Church, according to his online obituary. There will be two visitations at the church, one from 7-9 p.m. this upcoming Friday and a second from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, followed by the ceremony.

Burks attended Paul Quinn College and pledged Omega Psi Phi. He worked at Texans Can Academies before joining the force, according to Apryl Washington Goree, a former coworker at the charter school.

“He loved helping kids, but he wanted to help the community versus just the classroom,” Washington Goree said. “He wanted to help on a broader spectrum.”

Dallas police have released few details about the wounded officers.

Farmer, who was shot in the leg, was treated and released from the hospital on Friday. David, who was shot in the face, was in critical condition but listed as stable, García said, adding she faces a long recovery.

“We are devastated,” García said. “The investigation determined last night was premeditated, again for no other reason than the uniform we wear.”

Ninety-three Dallas police officers have died in the line of duty since 1892, according to police website.

Who is Corey Cobb-Bey?

García identified 30-year-old Cobb-Bey as the shooter at his news conference on Friday.

LaDarrian Brooks, 39, who identified himself as Cobb-Bey’s older brother, said Cobb-Bey was shot and killed Thursday and confirmed he was the suspect in this case.

“The whole family is floored,” Brooks told The News. “Our family ... we would like to deeply, deeply apologize to the families that were involved in this situation because it’s a tragic, tragic situation.”

In social media posts, Cobb-Bey repeatedly mentions the “end times” and refers to himself as a “Moor,” a reference to the Moorish Science Temple of America.

The movement is based on the premise that African Americans are descendants of the Moabites originating from the Moroccan Empire. The religion incorporates Islamic teachings with teachings of personal transformation and racial pride.

The Anti-Defamation League has noted some overlap between the Moorish Science Temple and Sovereign Citizens, which the FBI considers an antigovernment extremist group.

The Moorish Science Temple of America Dallas chapter posted a letter to its Facebook page on Friday to “reaffirm our commitment to peace and non-violence.”

In an Aug. 6 Instagram reel, Cobb-Bey displays a 9-millimeter handgun and a semiautomatic 12-gauge shotgun. A video posted four days ago shows Cobb-Bey approaching officers in a parked, unmarked SUV and asking them if there’s “any problem.”

Cobb-Bey worked as a commercial truck driver, according to posts on his TikTok.

How are city officials reacting?

A patrol car was parked in front of the department’s south central station Friday morning. On its hood lay one bouquet of white roses and another of white lilies.

“Dallas has lost a hero,” Mayor Eric Johnson wrote in a statement Friday. “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.”

“I want to express my deepest condolences and full support to the family of our fallen Dallas Police Officer,” Dallas Interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert wrote in a statement Friday. “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.”

From the parking lot of For Oak Cliff Friday morning, Dallas City Council member Carolyn King Arnold told The News she was “devastated” by the news of the shooting.

“Really no words can describe an officer being murdered like this,” she said. “It just leaves you speechless.”

Arnold said she was relieved to hear the For Oak Cliff center was able to share surveillance video with Dallas police to assist in their investigation.