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Micah Xavier Johnson
Bornc. 1991
Mississippi
Died (aged 25)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Cause of deathBlunt trauma resulting from explosion[4]
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)U.S. Army reservist, caregiver
Known forPerpetrator of the 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers
MotiveAnger about recent police shootings, anger towards white people[1][2][3]

Micah Xavier Johnson (c. 1991 – July 8, 2016) was an American responsible for the July 7, 2016, mass shooting targeting police officers at a Black Lives Matter-organized protest rally in Dallas, Texas. The shooting killed five police officers, and injured nine other officers and two bystanders, making it the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement since the September 11 attacks. After the shooting, Johnson fled into El Centro College and engaged in a standoff with police, which ended when he was killed by a robot-delivered bomb.

Prior to the shooting, Johnson was an Army Reserve Afghan War veteran. In May 2014, during his time in the Army Reserve, he was the subject of a sexual harassment investigation after he stole underwear from a female soldier. Proceedings were initiated to give Johnson an other than honorable discharge, but he was instead honorably discharged, which attracted controversy over the Army's handling of the case. After the shooting, the Army launched an investigation into Johnson's discharge.

Early life and education

[edit]

Micah Xavier Johnson was born in Mississippi and raised in Mesquite, Texas.[5][6][7][8] He once described his childhood as "stressful" during a VA visit on August 15, 2014, but further details were redacted on the visit report.[9] When he was four, his parents divorced.[8][10]

Johnson transferred into John Horn High School when he was 17 and participated in its Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, according to the Mesquite Independent School District.[8][10] He struggled academically, graduating in 2009 with a 1.98 grade-point average and a ranking of 430 out of 453 students in his class.[8][11][12]

In the spring of 2011, he enrolled in four classes at Richland College, but never completed any of them.[13] Investigators believed that Johnson had access to El Centro College through his enrollment at Richland, citing his pre-planned and coordinated movements throughout Building B.[14]

Military service

[edit]

Immediately after high school,[15] Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served from March 2009 to April 2015 as a 12W carpentry and masonry specialist.[16] According to Justin Garner, a high-school friend and classmate who later served alongside Johnson in the same unit, Johnson lacked proficiency in certain required technical skills, such as marksmanship.[8]

Johnson was activated at the rank of private first class in September 2013 in support of the War in Afghanistan, where he was deployed from November 2013 to July 2014[11][17][18] with the 420th Engineer Brigade.[19] He completed basic training, which required qualification on handling of an M16 rifle or M4 carbine, basic rifles for U.S. military personnel.[20]

People who knew Johnson during his time in the Army described him as openly religious and often socializing with white soldiers.[13] A squad leader, who trained Johnson in tactical maneuvers and protection in 2009 and 2010, described him as "klutzy", "goofy sometimes", and "a nice guy", but also quiet and unmotivated.[21][22] Documents released by the Army on July 29 detailed early signs of disturbing behavior being exhibited by him, but specific details were redacted.[23] They also said that while Johnson was sociable, he was generally described by soldiers as a loner who sometimes ate his lunch in a vehicle alone while the rest of his unit ate outside together.[24]

Discharge

[edit]

On May 1, 2014,[25] during his deployment, he was accused of sexual harassment by a female soldier, who sought a protective order against him and said that he needed mental health counseling.[8][26][27][28] The accusation was made after the soldier reported four pairs of women's underwear missing from her laundry bag. A "health and welfare inspection" of soldiers' rooms found one pair in Johnson's quarters, while a soldier discovered the remaining three in Johnson's pocket. Upon being confronted about it, Johnson fled with the undergarments and attempted to dispose of them in a nearby dumpster. He then lied that a female civilian acquaintance gave the underwear to him, but the female soldier confirmed that they were in fact hers.[23][24][29][30]

The female soldier told investigators that she and Johnson had been platonic friends for five years but had stopped talking to each other. She described their relationship as being tumultuous and involving fights and disagreements. She specifically recalled one incident where Johnson punched out a car window over her leaving for college and severed an artery, then forced her to bring him to a hospital for treatment. However, Johnson claimed that he punched out the window when the soldier missed a movie they planned to see together, and added that he had been under stress from his job and turbulent home life at the time.[25][31][32][33]

According to the soldier, Johnson asked her for a pair of her underwear before the May 1 incident, but she declined. Also, during a Facebook conversation with her, Johnson mentioned "tying her down and having her face down on the bed" but then claimed the statement was a joke. Though she told him that rape was "never a joke" and to stop contacting her, the soldier did not report him for harassment at the time because she was used to that kind of rhetoric, as she was frequently around men at home and work.[25][34] Though the May 1 incident did not meet the Army's criteria for sexual harassment, investigators found that Johnson's sexually suggestive comments to the female soldier met said criteria.[23][24][29][30]

Following the inspection, he was disarmed under the recommendation of his platoon sergeant, who felt he posed a potential threat. Another Army official later described the action as unusual, as Johnson did not appear to be visibly agitated or a threat to himself or others at the time.[31][32] Johnson was then placed under 24-hour escort, which was reportedly a shameful and ostracizing experience,[8] before being temporarily moved to Bagram Airfield on May 3, but he did not have enough time to pack all of his belongings. While soldiers were emptying Johnson's quarters and packing his belongings for him on May 14, they discovered an unauthorized "single M169, 40mm High Explosive Dual Purpose MK19 grenade", a .50-caliber round, and another soldier's prescription medication in his sleeping bag.[23][24][25][30]

Later, the Army sent Johnson back to the U.S., and according to the military lawyer who represented Johnson at the time, the Army initiated proceedings to give Johnson an "other than honorable discharge". The lawyer viewed this as "highly unusual" because written reprimands are usually done before more drastic steps, and also because the decision was based on a single sexual harassment allegation.[15][26][28] On the advice of his attorney, Johnson waived his right to a hearing in exchange for a more favorable "general discharge under honorable conditions".[26][35] He was honorably discharged in September 2014, apparently as a result of an Army error.[27] Johnson remained in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), meaning he could be recalled into the Army if needed, and was part of the IRR at the time of his death.[11][31]

Johnson received the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and NATO Medal for his tour of duty in Afghanistan.[19][36]

Some of Johnson's fellow soldiers criticized the Army's handling of the case.[8][35]

Motive

[edit]

Chief Brown said that Johnson, who was black, was upset about recent police shootings and the Black Lives Matter movement, and "stated he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers."[2][3] A friend and former coworker of Johnson's described him as "always [being] distrustful of the police."[10] Another former coworker said he seemed "very affected" by recent police shootings of black men.[13] A friend said that Johnson had anger management problems and would repeatedly watch video of the 1991 beating of Rodney King by police officers.[37]

Investigators found no ties between Johnson and international terrorist or domestic extremist groups.[16]

An investigation into his online activities uncovered his interest in black nationalist groups.[26] The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and news outlets reported that Johnson "liked" the Facebook pages of black nationalist organizations such as the New Black Panther Party (NBPP), Nation of Islam, and Black Riders Liberation Army, three groups which are listed by the SPLC as hate groups.[38] On Facebook, Johnson posted an angry and "disjointed" post against white people on July 2, several days before the attack.[39]

NBPP head Quanell X said after the shooting that Johnson had been a member of the NBPP's Houston chapter for about six months, several years before.[40] Quanell X added that Johnson had been "asked to leave" the group for violating the organization's "chain of command" and espousing dangerous rhetoric, such as asking the NBPP why they had not purchased more weapons and ammunition, and expressing his desire to harm black church preachers because he believed they were more interested in money than God.[41][42][43] Following the shooting, a national NBPP leader distanced the group from Johnson, saying that he "was not a member of" the party.[42]

Johnson also "liked" the Facebook page of the African American Defense League, whose leader, Mauricelm-Lei Millere, called for the murders of police officers across the U.S. following the fatal 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald.[26][42] In response to the police killing of Alton Sterling, the organization had "posted a message earlier in the week encouraging violence against police".[27]

Johnson's Facebook profile photo depicted Johnson raising his arm in a Black Power salute, along with images of a Black Power symbol and a flag associated with the Pan-Africanism movement.[26][39] These symbols have long represented nonviolent black empowerment, "but have also been co-opted by extremist groups with racist views."[26]

Conversely, people familiar with Johnson during his military service believed he may have been severely stressed with serving in a combat zone. They also said he had little interest in the topics of racial injustice and the shooting of Trayvon Martin that occurred at the time.[13] In an interview, Johnson's parents said that he was once extroverted and patriotic, and wanted to become a police officer. Following his discharge from the Army, they described him as disillusioned, reclusive, and resentful of the U.S. government; and believed he had been disappointed by his experience in the military.[28][44] According to a soldier, Johnson had a small breakdown after he began losing his friends in the Army after details of the sexual harassment accusation were released.[35]

Before the shooting

[edit]

According to an employment application made by Johnson seven months before his death, he worked in a Jimmy John's sandwich shop in north Dallas beginning in 2010, and took a position as a quality assurance worker at a Garland, Texas truck plant in 2012.[11] At the time of his death, Johnson was working as an in-home caregiver for his mentally disabled adult brother. Both men lived with their mother in her home.[11][45]

Johnson had no criminal record in Texas.[5] However, the Mesquite Police Department documented an encounter with him in January 2011. According to the report, Johnson walked into their police station "visibly upset and...bouncing from side to side." He told an officer that a female friend had lied to him and that he had nowhere else to go. He also declined mental health treatment and claimed he was not a threat to himself or others. Johnson was eventually picked up from the station by a friend from his Army Reserve unit.[24]

The Veterans Health Administration released documents in August 2016 showing that Johnson had symptoms for posttraumatic stress disorder following his return from Afghanistan. He was not formally diagnosed with the condition, and doctors concluded that he presented no serious risk to himself or others. Johnson had sought treatment for anxiety, depression, and hallucinations, once telling doctors that he had experienced nightmares after witnessing fellow soldiers dying in explosions. Johnson also said that he would hear voices and mortars exploding; and that after returning to the U.S., he would be paranoid, suffer from lower back pain, and experience panic attacks a few times per week. For the latter condition, he recalled one incident at a Wal-Mart that required a police response. For his conditions, Johnson was prescribed several medication, including a muscle relaxant, an antidepressant, and anti-anxiety and sleep medication.[9]

Chief Brown said that while Johnson had been planning the shooting before the deaths of Sterling and Philando Castile, both incidents served as the trigger to commit the shooting and that he saw the Dallas protest as "an opportunity" to attack police officers.[46] Johnson had offered to work security at an anti-Donald Trump rally led by Dallas civil rights activist Reverend Peter Johnson on June 16, but he insisted on bringing a gun, so the reverend declined.[47]

According to police and a neighbor, Johnson practiced military exercises in his backyard.[48][49] In 2014, Johnson received training and instruction at a private self-defense school that teaches special tactics such as "shooting on the move", in which a gunman quickly fires and then changes position before resuming gunfire.[50] The tactic was designed to keep a gunman's location uncertain and create the impression of multiple shooters.[51] Although the school's website does mention such training as being offered, Justin Everman, the founder of the school, stated that Johnson only took self-defense courses two years ago.[52] Investigators believed that he began amassing his arsenal around the same time, stockpiling guns and gathering chemicals and electronic devices needed to build explosives and PVC piping.[20][53]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Dallas Police shed light on gunman's possible motives". ABC News. July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016. The suspect said he was upset about Black Lives Matter. He said he was upset about the recent police shootings. The suspect said he was upset at white people. The suspect stated he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers.
  2. ^ a b Bruton, F. Brinley; Smith, Alexander; Chuck, Elizabeth; Helsel, Phil (July 7, 2016). "Dallas Police 'Ambush': 12 Officers Shot, 5 Killed During Protest". NBC News. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Shapiro, Emily; Jacobo, Julia; Wash, Stephanie (July 9, 2016). "Dallas Shooting Suspect Micah Xavier Johnson Had Rifles, Bomb-Making Materials in His Home, Police Say". ABC News. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  4. ^ Axe, David (July 8, 2016). "Cops Kill With a Robot for the 1st Time". Daily Beast. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  5. ^ a b McGee, Patrick; Fernandez, Manny; Bromwich, Jonah Engel (July 7, 2016). "Snipers Kill 5 Dallas Officers at Protest Against Police Shootings". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  6. ^ "What we know so far about deadly ambush in downtown Dallas". The Dallas Morning News. July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  7. ^ "Dallas shooting: Who was gunman Micah Xavier Johnson?". BBC News. July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "When Army career ended in disgrace, Dallas gunman was ostracized". Chicago Tribune. July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Burke, Garance (August 24, 2016). "Soldier who killed 5 Dallas officers showed PTSD symptoms". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c McGaughy, Lauren; Martin, Brittney (July 8, 2016). "Five things you should know about Dallas shooting suspect Micah Johnson". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c d e Arkin, William; Connor, Tracy; Miklaszewski, Jim (July 8, 2016). "Dallas Shooter Micah Johnson Was Army Veteran and 'Loner'". NBC News. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  12. ^ Moffeit, Miles (July 13, 2016). "Army launches internal review of Dallas shooter Micah Johnson's military record". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d Emily, Jennifer (July 10, 2016). "Who was Micah Johnson? A more complex picture emerges". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  14. ^ Young, Stephen (July 20, 2016). "Police Provide Details of Shootout at El Centro". Dallas Observer. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Military investigates why Dallas gunman received honorable discharge". CBS News. Associated Press. July 13, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  16. ^ a b Kennedy, Merrit (July 8, 2016). "What We Know About The Dallas Suspected Gunman". NPR. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  17. ^ Achenbach, Joel; Wan, William; Berman, Mark; Balingit, Moriah (July 8, 2016). "Five Dallas police officers were killed by a lone attacker, authorities say". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  18. ^ Jamieson, Amber; Ackerman, Spencer; Dart, Tom (July 8, 2016). "Micah Xavier Johnson: Dallas suspect was Afghanistan war veteran, army says". The Guardian. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  19. ^ a b Hennigan, W.J. (July 8, 2016). "Dallas gunman was a former Army Reserve soldier". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Dallas gunman amassed personal arsenal over two years". CBS News. Associated Press. July 9, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  21. ^ Gutierrez, Gabe; Bruton, F. Brinley (July 13, 2016). "Dallas Gunman Micah Johnson Was 'Klutzy,' 'Goofy' While in Army". NBC News. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  22. ^ Shipp, Brett (July 13, 2016). "Squad leader: Micah Johnson was trained to kill". KHOU. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  23. ^ a b c d Wan, William (July 30, 2016). "Stolen underwear, pills and a grenade: Army found Dallas gunman behaving strangely 2 years ago". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  24. ^ a b c d e Frosch, Dan; Berzon, Alexandra (July 29, 2016). "Report on Dallas Shooter Points to Erratic Behavior During Time in Army". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  25. ^ a b c d Trahan, Jason (August 17, 2016). "New documents show Dallas cop killer had violent outburst". WFAA. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Mahler, Jonathan; Turkewitz, Julie (July 8, 2016). "Suspect in Dallas Attack Had Interest in Black Power Groups". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  27. ^ a b c "Dallas sniper profile: Micah Johnson was sent home from Afghanistan". The Guardian. Associated Press. July 9, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  28. ^ a b c "Afghan tour made Dallas gunman a "hermit," family says". CBS News. Associated Press. July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  29. ^ a b "Dallas shooter was accused of sexual misconduct, military says". CBS News. Associated Press. July 29, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  30. ^ a b c Kennedy, Merrit (July 29, 2016). "Hidden Panties And Explosives: Army Releases Bizarre Details About Dallas Shooter". NPR. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  31. ^ a b c Brook, Tom Vanden; Locker, Ray (August 17, 2016). "Report shows that Army took away gun from Dallas cop shooter Micah Johnson". USA Today. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  32. ^ a b Frosch, Dan (August 17, 2016). "Dallas Shooter Had Firearm Taken Away During Time in Army". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  33. ^ Martinez, Luis (August 17, 2016). "Army Removed Dallas Shooter's Weapons During Afghanistan Deployment". ABC News. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  34. ^ Young, Stephen (August 19, 2016). "5 Details From the Army's Investigation of Micah Johnson". Dallas Observer. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  35. ^ a b c Martin, Brittney; Krause, Kevin; Thompson, Steve (July 15, 2016). "Soldiers criticize Army's handling of Dallas shooter after underwear incident". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  36. ^ Gaouette, Nicole; Visser, Steve (July 9, 2016). "Dallas police shooter a reclusive Army reservist". CNN. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  37. ^ Griffin, Drew; Fitzpatrick, David; Devine, Curt (July 10, 2016). "Was Dallas cop killer Micah Johnson radicalized online?". CNN. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  38. ^ Beirich, Heidi; Lenz, Ryan (July 8, 2016). "Dallas Sniper Connected to Black Separatist Hate Groups on Facebook". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  39. ^ a b Cherelus, Gina; Seba, Erwin; Ax, Joseph; Trotta, Daniel; Dwyer, Mimi; Landay, Jonathan (July 8, 2016). "Dallas shooting suspect's online posts reflect anger, frustration". Reuters. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  40. ^ "Dallas shooter was ex-member of Houston's New Black Panther party". KPRC-TV. July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  41. ^ Hlavaty, Craig (July 11, 2016). "Quanell X: Dallas police shooter was excused from Houston group years ago". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  42. ^ a b c Fung, Brian (July 9, 2016). "What you need to know about the black nationalists the Dallas shooter liked on Facebook". Washington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  43. ^ Ailworth, Erin; Frosch, Dan (July 15, 2016). "Dallas Shooter Micah Johnson Showed Interest in Black Nationalist Groups". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  44. ^ Schuppe, Jon (July 11, 2016). "Dallas Sniper Micah Johnson Changed After Army Deployment, Parents Say". NBC News. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  45. ^ "The Latest: Dallas gunman was paid to care for brother". Associated Press. July 9, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Owner Jeppi Carnegie says that Micah Johnson was paid to care for his brother, who was in his early 20s.
  46. ^ "Dallas Police Chief: Micah Johnson Planned To Target Police Before Fatal Shootings Of 2 Black Men". CBS New York. Associated Press. July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  47. ^ Zeeble, Bill (July 10, 2016). "Dallas Shooting Suspect Wanted To Bring Gun To Trump Protest Rally, Civil Rights Leader Says". KERA. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  48. ^ Fausset, Richard; Fernandez, Manny; Blinder, Alan (July 9, 2016). "Micah Johnson, Gunman in Dallas, Honed Military Skills to a Deadly Conclusion". The New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  49. ^ Klose, Lauren; Tracy, Thomas (July 8, 2016). "Micah Xavier Johnson's sister appears to condone violence against police in Facebook posts before Dallas massacre". The New York Daily News. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  50. ^ Dunklin, Reese; Linderman, Juliet (July 10, 2016). "Dallas gunman learned tactics at Texas self-defense school". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  51. ^ Swaine, Jon; Helmore, Edward (July 10, 2016). "Hundreds arrested amid new protests as details of Dallas gunman's plans emerge". The Guardian. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  52. ^ Banker, Phil (July 19, 2016). "Dallas shooter trained at Richardson school". Star Local Media. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  53. ^ "Dallas gunman Micah Johnson honed tactics at local combat school". CBS News. Associated Press. July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
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