Trump, Clinton Condemn Dallas Shootings, Cancel Campaign Events

Presidential candidates Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton canceled planned events on Friday, July 8, following a shooting that left five police officers dead in Dallas, Texas.

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At Least 5 Officers Shot Dead at Dallas Police Brutality March

At least one sniper killed five Dallas police officers and wounded another seven at the site of a Black Lives Matter protest following the killing of two Black men by police. Alton Sterling was shot in the chest by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on July 5, and Philando Castille was killed during a routine traffic stop in St Paul, Minnesota a day later. Videos of the incidents went viral on social media, sparking outrage at the latest killing of Black civilians by U.S. police officers.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown said the suspected shooter, Micah Johnson, was upset about the recent police killings and said the 25-year-old "wanted to kill white people, especially white officers."

Brown said police used a robot carrying a bomb to kill Johnson after a standoff.

The presumptive candidates responded to the shootings, issuing statements Friday.

"I mourn for the officers shot while doing their sacred duty to protect peaceful protesters, for their families & all who serve with them," Clinton tweeted.

Trump wrote, "Prayers and condolences to all of the families who are so thoroughly devastated by the horrors we are all watching take place in our country."

Meanwhile, police briefly ordered a lockdown of the U.S. Capitol because of police activity on Friday, and a Senate aide said officers were searching for a woman who may have a weapon in a basement area near the U.S. House of Representatives.

Police gave an all-clear notice to reopen the Capitol building shortly after 9:30 a.m., about half an hour after the lockdown began. It was not immediately clear whether the police had found the person they were seeking.