After the attacks on Dallas Police on July 8, 2016, I worked as a stringer for the New York Daily News.

While speaking with the victims families in the immediate aftermath was one of the most difficult assignments of my career, it was blown away by their openness.

Dallas shooter Micah Xavier Johnson who killed five cops wanted to kill more, suspects had a 'well-thought out evil strategy'

He came to Dallas carrying a semi-automatic rifle and a heart filled with hate.An angry former Army reservist, infuriated by police shootings of black men, ambushed and executed five Dallas cops in a racist rampage that interrupted a Black Lives Matter rally.Details of the slaughter were revealed Friday on the orchestrated killing spree that ended only after shooter Micah Johnson was killed by a bomb attached to a police robot. Though Johnson's stated goal was to "kill white people . . . especially white officers," one of his law enforcement victims was a Mexican-American — and one of two protesters who were shot and wounded was a black woman.

Seven other police officers were wounded before Johnson's reign of terror ended inside a downtown Dallas parking garage."This was a mobile shooter that had written manifestos on how to shoot and move, shoot and move, and he did that," said Mayor Mike Rawlings. "He did his damage — but we did damage to him as well."Dallas Police Chief David Brown was unconvinced by the killer's claim that he acted alone, and said the hunt continued for co-conspirators.

"It's revealed to us that this was a well-planned, well-thought out evil strategy by these suspects," Brown said. "And we won't rest until we bring everyone involved to justice."Two men and a woman were already in custody, although their alleged roles in the deadliest day for law enforcement since 9/11 remained unclear. The killings occurred about two blocks from Dealey Plaza, where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said there was only one shooter, and authorities found no links to any international terrorist groups.A witness described an amped Johnson, 25, stomping around in Army boots as he grabbed a brown fatigue bulletproof vest from a duffel bag on the street."As he's strapping it up, I said, 'Good day, officer,' " the witness told WFAA-TV. "He says, I'm not no f---ing cop . . . Somebody's gonna die tonight.' A cop car's passing by, and he just unloads on it."At least a dozen officers returned fire during the night as the protest descended into chaos, with demonstrators sprinting away from the shooter and officers running toward him.

The Rev. Jeff Hood, one of the protest organizers, said the uneventful protest march was winding down when he heard the crackle of gunfire."Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! — in succession," he recalled. "Immediately I looked up, and saw what I believe was two police officers that went down."A graphic video also captured the shooter surprising a police officer near El Centro Community College, firing several times into his back.

Johnson finally fled to the second floor of a Bank of America parking garage where a gunfight was followed by a standoff before he was killed by the police bomb."We saw no other option but to use our bomb robot," Brown said. "Other options would have exposed our officers to grave danger."President Obama, who placed a call to Mayor Rawlings, called the killings a "vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement."Obama said Friday he would cut his European trip short and visit Dallas early next week.Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick sounded a less-than-conciliatory note on Fox News, describing the protesters at Thursday night's march as "hypocrites" for their behavior once the shooting started."All those protesters last night, they turned around and ran the other way expecting the men and women in blue to protect them," Patrick said. "What hypocrites!" 

Brown said the gunman made comments to a police negotiator during a lengthy dialogue that pointed to other suspects."The suspect said other things that are part of this investigation so that we can make sure that everyone associated with this tragic event can be brought to justice," Brown said.Four of the slain officers were with the Dallas Police Department, while the fifth was a Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer.DART Officer Brent Thompson, 43, was the first officer killed in the line of duty since the agency formed a police department in 1989. He had just married a fellow cop this month.The slain Dallas officers were identified as Patrick Zamarripa, 32; Michael Krol, 40; Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, a 14-year Dallas police veteran, and Michael Smith, 44, the father of two young girls."I know we're not the only ones," said Zamarripa's stepmom Maria. "And my heart breaks for the other families. It's just senseless. It's unreal."Meanwhile, protests against police brutality continued Friday night across the country, with thousands taking to the streets in New York, Atlanta, Baton Rouge and Los Angeles.The events were largely peaceful and there were no immediate reports of major clashes or injuries.

Dallas shooter Micah Xavier Johnson who killed five cops wanted to kill more, suspects had a 'well-thought out evil strategy'

Maria Zamarripa, glued to the TV coverage of the murderous mayhem in Dallas, frantically texted her stepson: "Can u please let us know if you are OK?"When Dallas police Officer Patrick Zamarripa never replied, she quickly understood that they would never speak again.

"I got that gut feeling when I texted him," Maria Zamarripa recalled Friday inside the family's suburban Texas home. "I knew."Her premonition proved sadly prescient: The five-year police veteran and father of a beautiful 2-year-old girl was among the five officers killed Thursday night in a racist rampage.

The 32-year-old Mexican-American cop was a Navy veteran who served three tours in Iraq — only to die on the Dallas streets during a peaceful protest march, devastated relatives said."You always think of somebody that would die in war or get killed in Iraq in a foreign country. But not here," Maria Zamarripa, 50, told the Daily News the day after his death.Zamarripa was the oldest of three children and "the ideal big brother," she said. 

A television in the home remained tuned to the news coverage of the Dallas attack, and a wall inside was covered in crucifixes of different colors and shapes.His dad Rick, who was weeping Thursday night while waiting to hear from Patrick, recalled a father-son fishing trip where the youngster caught his first catfish."He always wanted to impress his dad," Rick said wistfully. "I said, 'You don't have to impress me. I love you. I'm your dad.'"

Patrick, who grew up in Saginaw, was remembered by his parents as a kind and helpful guy who loved life."Patrick's the kind of guy that would bend over backward to help," the dad said. "If he has $1 and you needed it, he'd give it to you. He's the type of person that would do without so you can have."Moments after Maria sent a second text at 10:33 p.m., the phone rang with a summons to Parkland Hospital. Their greatest fears were confirmed upon arrival: Patrick was pronounced dead at 9:17 p.m.

"No! No! No!" screamed Rick.Zamarripa was a devoted fan of the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys, and his girlfriend Kristy was at a Rangers game when the ambush began.He was also helping to raise Kristy's older son. 

"He loved being a dad," Maria said.Friends and family of the slain officer poured out condolences on social media."Love you brother. Couldn't be prouder. We'll see you again," his stepbrother, Dustin Martinez, tweeted with a photo of Zamarripa in his police uniform.

"We will never forget you. Thank you for your courage. Rest in peace, Patrick Zamarripa," tweeted pal Ben Rogers.The last time Maria saw her stepson, he was picking up his daughter at her house — and discovered the girl was learning to talk."We were just happy to hear her putting words together and he had a big smile on his face," she recalled.Zamarripa was proud of his Mexican heritage, loved to golf and, most of all, loved being on the police force."He loved being a cop," said Maria. "He loved helping people."

Desiree Cosineau reporting in Saginaw, Tex.