Dallas Shootings LAPD Doubles Down on Security
There is predictable fallout from the Dallas massacre in police departments all over the country. We've spoken with a number of cops and brass at LAPD and surrounding agencies ... and here are some top of mind concerns:
-- Cops are concerned about fake 911 calls ... that a copycat might use the emergency number to set up an ambush.
-- We're told cops are talking about carrying extra weapons to ensure they're prepared for the worst. It's a bigger issue now than ever before.
-- The brass is telling officers to always carry ballistic helmets, vests and other protective gear and have it instantly available.
-- There won't be 1-person patrol units for the foreseeable future.
-- Cops are being told not to advertise that they work in law enforcement while off duty.
That said, the brass is trying to reassure officers that not every call is an ambush and not to develop paranoia.
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LaDainian Tomlinson Athletes Need to Be Leaders Stop Worrying About Money!
NFL great LaDainian Tomlinson -- who lives in the Dallas area -- says the assassination of police officers and the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile should serve as a wake-up call to superstar athletes.
TMZ Sports got LT'S reaction to the violence that erupted in his home state, and he was deeply concerned about the future for his son. As for solutions to the issues -- he talked about why more athletes don't use their public platform to speak out.
LaDainian says for too many of them it's all about money, but he does think there's at least one NBA star who can change that. Check out his take.
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Congressman Pete Sessions These Mass Murders Not One Size Fits All
The police assassinations hit close to home for Congressman Pete Sessions ... he represents Dallas, and thinks it's a huge mistake to try to and come up with one solution for the entire country.
Sessions, Chairman of the House Rules Committee and one of the most powerful members of Congress, told our photog Friday on Capitol Hill ... the underlying causes of violence vary from community to community -- the murders in Dallas and Chicago, he says, are different.
Everyone's looking for solutions, which is good.
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The Game & Snoop Dogg L.A. Peacemakers
It was a remarkable moment ... The Game and Snoop Dogg forged an alliance with L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck, in an emotionally powerful plea for peace.
Game and Snoop, who were in downtown L.A. Friday morning for a peace march, met with the Mayor and Chief behind closed doors and then they all walked out in lockstep to make their case for everyone to stop the killings, the murders, the carnage.
You gotta listen ... there's palpable anger about events over the last week from all of them, but it's all tempered by what has become a revelation for salvation.
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Waka Flocka Flame Now's the Time for Solidarity ... But I Still Want Justice
Waka Flocka Flame is actually optimistic after the deadly violence in Dallas, Minnesota and Louisiana this week -- and believes this is a great opportunity for Americans to come together.
We got Waka at LAX Friday morning and rather than being depressed about the tragic events -- as millions of people are today -- he thinks it's time to rally ... no matter what your race.
It was a remarkably positive outlook, but at the very end his tone changed when we asked specifically about what happened in Dallas. Watch the clip ... he strongly hints bad cops need to punished, and if the courts won't do it ... someone will.
It seems to be one step further than what Jada Pinkett Smith told us.
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Dallas Assassinations Slain Cop's Chance Meeting With Cuba Gooding Jr.
Officer Patrick Zamarripa, one of five Dallas cops assassinated Thursday, had a brush with Hollywood ... thanks to Cuba Gooding Jr.
Zamarripa posted this pic back in February after he and his partner had a chance meeting with Cuba in Dallas. Zamarripa used Twitter a lot ... his last post on July 4th read, "Happy Birthday to the greatest country on the face of this planet. My beloved America!"
It's no secret ... Cuba loves cops. We got video of him in NYC a few months back surrounded by officers ... and it was hugs all around.
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Dallas Gunman Micah X. Johnson Anti-Cop, Pro-Black Panther
Micah Xavier Johnson -- the 25-year-old law enforcement confirms as the Dallas shooter -- had involvement with a handful of pro-black and police watchdog groups.
Johnson's social media accounts reveal he was a member of several Black Panther organizations, including The New Black Panther Party Houston Chapter.
Johnson also subscribed to a Facebook group called "The Black Matrix," which aims to dismantle the system it believes "white societal elites" have put in place to "control the perceptions of its Black populations."
Johnson -- who served in the U.S. Army -- had involvement with Facebook communities including "Filming Cops" and "Police The Police," which describes itself as a platform for documenting and archiving police misconduct, brutality and abuse of authority.
Dallas PD Chief David Brown said before they took down Johnson he said he was angry about police brutality and wanted to kill white officers.
Snoop Dogg You Can't Answer Hate with Hate
Snoop Dogg is doing his part to curb the violence with what he calls a "love offering" ... saying you can't eliminate hate with hate.
Snoop led a crowd in downtown L.A. Friday morning, acknowledging the deep frustration over instances of police brutality against African Americans, but he's clear ... what happened Thursday night in Dallas is not a solution.
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Dallas Assassinations Police Incredibly Calm Under Pressure
TMZ obtained this video of at least 9 Dallas cops taking what appears to be a possible person of interest into custody immediately after Thursday's mass shooting ... and despite crushing pressure and emotion, they keep their cool.
The man in question clearly captured the attention of police because he's wearing a bulletproof vest. We don't know if police kept the man in custody or if he had any connection to Thursday's shootings.
The scene was almost shockingly calm considering what had unfolded only moments before, but there's still tension ... you hear bystanders crying out "Do what they say!!" as the man cautiously approaches.
Jada Pinkett Smith Backlash Against Police Sadly Predictable
Jada Pinkett Smith seems to think the violence in Dallas was virtually inevitable, saying, "Desperate communities do desperate things."
A photog got Jada at LAX Thursday, and asked about the recent police involved shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Her reaction was poignant. It's important to note this video was shot before the Dallas news broke in L.A.
But Jada spoke about members of the black community taking extreme measures in impossible times.
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Dallas Police Chief Shooter Wanted to Kill Whites, Cops
Dallas Police Chief David Brown just confirmed the obvious ... one of the shooters was gunning to kill white people, and especially cops.
The Chief said the killer was angry over the 2 recent shootings and also upset with the Black Lives Matter movement.
The end of his comments is heart-wrenching, talking about the lack of support police feel everyday.
Joe Walsh 'Watch Out Obama ... Real America is Coming After You'
Syndicated radio talk show host Joe Walsh declared war on President Obama after the Dallas cop killings, saying, "This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you."
The former congressman went wild on Twitter last night, deleting the comment after a torrent of criticism over his remarks.
Walsh also called Obama a "cop hater" who was no different from "the thugs on the street."
Walsh was critical of the remarks Obama made Thursday night -- about racism in the criminal justice system -- claiming the comments may have triggered the sniper attack in Dallas.
He said, "Obama says cops are racist so 2 uneducated black thugs shoot 10 Dallas cops."
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U.S. Capitol On Lockdown
6:45 AM PT -- Police have ended the lockdown. Cops say an employee had passed through security with an item in a backup that appeared to be a weapon.
Once they determined it was not ... everything went back to normal.
The U.S. Capitol is on lockdown while police search for an individual -- possibly armed -- and people already in the building have been told to take shelter.
According to law enforcement there was a report of a person with a gun in a subway near Capitol. It's unclear if the person has actually entered the Capitol.
Right now authorities are saying the lockdown is being done out of "an abundance of caution."
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Dallas Assassinations Celebs React with Deep Emotions
Like most people, celebrities are grieving over the Dallas murders.
Here's a sampling.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
My heart hurts. God help us.
@ddlovato
These Dallas shootings are horrific. Killing these officers is morally reprehensible and completely counterproductive to keeping us safe.
@johnlegend
Dallas Cops Fatally Shot Multiple Suspects Captured
Dallas police have several suspects in custody, and are searching for more in the ambush-style shootings of 12 officers ... 5 of whom were killed during a protest.
The attack happened in the middle of a peaceful protest against the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile -- and police believe the shots came from snipers in elevated positions. Gunshots echoed through downtown Dallas for several minutes during the fierce battle.
Early Friday morning police said they had arrested 3 suspects and had at least one more cornered in a building. One of the suspects reportedly told police there were multiple bombs planted around the city.
Police say they did find one suspicious package which the bomb squad planned to detonate.
Police had released a photo of a man in a camouflage shirt who was walking through the protest with a rifle. Police initially called him a "person of interest," but he later turned himself in, and police now say he was not involved. Texas is an open carry state.
Story developing ...
Sharon Stone Tearful Over Police Shootings
Sharon Stone got super emotional over the deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling.
We got Sharon at LAX Thursday where she drew a line in the sand over how to protest the killings ...