Local officials, police departments across the metroplex, and many concerned citizens are expressing their grief over the loss of a Dallas police officer who was fatally shot Thursday evening and their support for two others who were wounded.
As reported by The Dallas Express, shortly after 10 p.m., dozens of Dallas police units responded to an officer in distress call in the 900 block of East Ledbetter Drive in the Oak Cliff community, where they discovered a male officer inside his marked squad car who had been shot.
Responding officers engaged with a male gunman at the scene, who fired at the officers, striking one in the head and another in the leg. The gunman then led officers on a chase north on I-35 toward Lewisville, where police were able to stop the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect, who has not been identified publicly, reportedly exited his vehicle carrying a long gun and was shot and killed by police.
The officer who was shot in his vehicle was transported to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The two injured officers were taken to area hospitals. The officer who was shot in the head is said to be in critical condition, while the officer shot in the leg is expected to make a full recovery.
The Dallas Police Department has not publicly identified the dead and injured officers, but the family of the fallen officer has identified him as 46-year-old Darron Burks. Burks, a former math teacher and coach at Texans Can Academies from 2006 to 2023, graduated from the police academy just this past December, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
“Last year, Officer Burks bravely decided to leave the field of education to serve our city as a member of the Dallas Police Department. His commitment to serving others, both as a teacher and as a police officer, exemplified his dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of those around him,” Tina Shaw, the principal at Texas Can Academy’s Pleasant Grove Campus, wrote, per Fox 4.
Burks’ social media profile says he was from Hampton, Arkansas, attended Lake Highlands High School, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Paul Quinn College.
As the news of the tragic shooting continues to sink in, various members of the community have been publicly expressing their grief.
On Friday morning, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia posted on social media a picture of a Dallas Police Department shield with a dark band around it with the comment, “No words.”
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who is currently isolating with COVID-19, has asked that City flags be flown at half-staff. He released a statement about the triple shooting:
“Dallas has lost a hero. We all grieve with the officer’s family today, and we pray for a full and swift recovery for the two officers who were wounded. This is devastating. In Dallas, we put public safety first. We stand up to violent criminals. We ask our police officers to do dangerous work so the rest of us can sleep peacefully. These dedicated public servants do so with grace, honor, respect, humility, and extraordinary courage.
“And 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. And we must take the time to come together and lift each other up as we mourn our fallen.”
Interim Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert also released a statement about the shooting:
“On behalf of the City of Dallas, I want to express my deepest condolences and full support to the family of our fallen Dallas Police Officer. 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. I would also like to extend our thoughts and full support to the two officers who were wounded. We are praying for your recovery.
“The City of Dallas is a family, and as we mourn the loss of one of our own, I ask that you continue to support and lift up the entire Dallas Police Department in prayer over the next several days and weeks. May God bless and keep them and may God Bless the City of Dallas.”
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker took to social media to ask for prayers for Chief Garcia and DPD, while the Frisco Police Department tweeted that it was sending out “thoughts of strength and support to our brothers and sisters with @DallasPD,” while praying for the recovery of the wounded officers.
The Fort Worth Police Department also expressed solidarity with DPD, tweeting, “We grieve alongside our brothers and sisters with the @DallasPD and with @DPDChiefGarcia as they mourn the loss of one of their officers, who was tragically shot and killed. Our hearts go out to the officer’s family and the entire department during this incredibly challenging time. We stand with you. We will never forget.”
The Irving and Lake Worth Police Departments expressed similar sentiments.
“I’m having a tough time keeping it together this morning,” Burks’ friend Don James posted on social media. “Hearing the news about my guy Darron Burks is so heartbreaking. He was one of the coolest dudes in the world. Whether you saw him everyday or once a year, he greeted you with the biggest smile and … a big hug because you were family to him. He had a way of making you feel important.”
Burks’ college fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, is organizing a candlelight vigil for the fallen officer at Winners Smokehouse in Cedar Hill on Friday at 6:30 p.m., Fox 4 reported.