Chicago: Dallas Police Chief David Brown today defended the use of a bomb-carrying robot to kill the gunman who went on a shooting rampage last week targeting cops, killing five officers.
Brown also updated the number of police officers wounded in Thursday's sniper attack -- which took place at the end of a peaceful protest over the fatal police shootings of two black men elsewhere in the United States -- from seven to nine.
Two civilians were also wounded in the ambush.
"This wasn't an ethical dilemma for me. I'd do it again," Brown said when asked about the use of a bomb robot to end the hours-long showdown with the shooter, identified as black Afghan war veteran Micah Johnson.
The 25-year-old Johnson, who told negotiators he was angry over police treatment of black men and was specifically targeting white cops, was killed in the explosion.
"I would use any tool necessary to save our officer's lives. I'm not ashamed to say it," Brown said, adding that the $150,000 robot was damaged but still functional.
When asked what advice he had given officers using the robot, Brown replied: "I said, 'Don't bring the building down.' That was the extent of my guidance."
The police chief told reporters that Johnson, who used a high-powered rifle in the sniper-like attack, also may have been planning a major bomb attack, with a "large stockpile" of bomb-making materials found at his home.
"He knew what he was doing. This wasn't some novice," Brown said. "We don't think he learned that in the military. We don't have any evidence of that."
Police investigators are combing through hundreds of hours of video evidence -- from officer body cameras, dash cams and nearby businesses -- to try to piece together what happened.
