8 July 2016

First reports always are incomplete, and often are wrong

 Final update, at 1444 MDT.  Not only were the first reports incomplete, they seem to have been wrong. Although the authorities have not completely ruled out additional shooters, the murders appear to be the work of one man, identified by the NY Times as 25-year-old black army veteran who served in Afghanistan. According to the Dallas chief of police, the shooter was targeting white police officers. The story is developing quickly, and of course is being covered well by the mainstream media. My approach remains one of measured skepticism. It may be quite some time before I publish anything on the policy implications of this incident.

That’s the approach I’m taking with the shootings in Dallas. Five police officers were killed, six more wounded, several seriously, and a civilian may be been wounded. There was more than one shooter, but at 0600 MDT this morning, we don’t know who did the shooting, why, or what kind of weapons were used.  Updated at 1114 MDT.  The Dallas Morning News reports seven officers and two civilians were wounded.

We can tentatively infer from the coordination of the ambush that this was not the act of a lone madman. But we cannot infer that it was terrorism. It might have been a small group settling a personal dispute with the police. Or there might be another explanation. We’ll find out soon enough. Updated at 1114 MDT.  Whether there was more than one shooter is now in doubt. One gunman, who reportedly said he wanted to kill white people, is dead. Confusion and uncertainty abound.