CNN’s Whitfield: Attacking Dallas Police HQ ‘Very Courageous and Brave’

CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield called the attack on Dallas Police Headquarters “very courageous and brave” on Saturday’s “CNN Newsroom.”

Whitfield, while discussing the shooting with legal analyst Philip Holloway, said, “It was very courageous and brave, if not crazy as well, to open fire on the police headquarters, and now you have this scene, this standoff. So you believe these are the hallmarks of more than one person’s involvement?”

Holloway’s smile visibly drooped when Whitfield praised the would-be cop killer.

“Well, first off, I will say that the Dallas police department did an excellent job handling this situation, and no one other than the suspect was injured,” he said. “Yes, I think it’s very likely he had some degree of assistance. These bombs that detonated immediately when the robot made contact with them, that suggests there might be some level of sophistication that may go beyond what this person is capable of.” 

Shortly after midnight on Friday in Dallas, what police described as an “armored van” parked in front of police headquarters — and opened fire. Police Chief David Brown identified the suspect as a white man, who furiously ranted to a 911 dispatcher he had been accused of engaging in terrorist activities in the past. Police believe that the suspect fired from several positions in the van to make it appear several shooters were firing upon the station.

Breitbart News reported that before a police sniper struck the van’s engine with a .50 caliber bullet, the suspect claimed he had rigged his van with explosives. According to sources, one cop almost tripped over a package; it exploded once a specialized robot tried to move it. No evidence of C4 explosives were found, and bomb technicians said the explosives were made from a black powder.

Brown said the suspect was clearly targeting police, and “did not care” when police officers confronted him.  He said the attack began with fire from an “automatic weapon,” after which the suspect “transitioned to a shotgun.”

“This has been a very chilling moment,” said the Chief.  “It raised the hair on the back of your neck, thinking about what could have happened.”   Noting that his officers were “literally dodging bullets,” he expressed profound thanks that none of them were injured, describing officers and witnesses on the scene as “blessed” to have avoided severe injuries and fatalities from the onslaught.

Police are reportedly speaking with the suspect, James Lance Boulware, who allegedly used “Zombie Apocalypse Assault Vehicle and Troop Transport” van to launch the attack. According to CBS News in Dallas, Jimmy Lee Boulware, 73, said his son purchased the van.

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter: @IanHanchett