The latest criminal justice news from The Texas Tribune.
When police mistakenly identified a peaceful protester who was legally, openly carrying a weapon as a suspect in the Dallas attacks, it sparked outrage among black gun owners who say they're discriminated against for exercising their Second Amendment right. Full Story
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Even before five police officers were killed Thursday at the site of a Black Lives Matter protest where seven other people were wounded, Dallas Police Chief David Brown had become all-too familiar with grief. Full Story
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A fragile peace settled over Dallas one day after a sniper caused the worst loss of police officer lives since September 11, but beneath calls for unity tension simmered. Full Story
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott praised the work of Dallas officials for demonstrating great heroism against the lone assassin who shot 11 police officers, killing five during what was a peaceful rally Thursday evening to protest aggressive policing across the nation. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott is scheduled to speak on the Dallas police shootings at 5 p.m., joined by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Police Chief David Brown. You can watch a livestream of the speech here, courtesy of KDFW FOX 4. Full Story
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An otherwise peaceful protest in downtown Dallas turned deadly on Thursday night when a sniper shot and killed at least five police officers and injured more. Here’s a look at some of the highest profile shootings in recent Texas history. Full Story
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The death of a suspect in the Dallas police shootings marks the first time U.S. police officers have used a robot to kill someone, according to Texas and national experts. Full Story
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Dallas officials made clear Friday that the fatal shooting of five law enforcement officers during a downtown rally will not silence future demonstrations. But both signaled that future protest participants may see new safeguards. Full Story
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Texas politicians and community leaders must do what the police courageously did on Thursday night in Dallas: Somebody has to run toward the trouble. Full Story
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Thursday night's brutal attack on Dallas officers followed an otherwise peaceful demonstration against police brutality, in a city where authorities have gone to great lengths to improve relations with the black community. Full Story
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A sniper involved in an attack on downtown Dallas that resulted in the death of at least five police officers said that he "wanted to kill white people," Dallas Police Chief David Brown said Friday. Full Story
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President Barack Obama made a public statement from Poland early Friday morning, hours after sniper attacks in downtown Dallas had killed at least five police officers. “I believe I speak for every single American when I say that we are horrified over these events,” Obama said. Full Story
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When civilians and police officers came under fire late Thursday night in Dallas, state officials live-tweeted the latest news, offered prayers and lamented a peaceful protest warping into a shootout between snipers and law enforcement. Full Story
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Sandra Bland's 2015 arrest, and death three days later in the Waller County Jail, remain catalysts for lawmakers, activists and policy experts seeking reforms in various facets of Texas criminal justice. Full Story
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David Cruz joined the U.S. Border Patrol because he wanted to be "part of the best." But family pressures, disillusionment, love and greed drove him to begin taking bribes to help immigrants enter the country illegally. Full Story
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A Texas execution set for next week has been delayed indefinitely because the state wasn't able to retest the purity of the lethal drugs in time. Full Story
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is calling a lawsuit filed by three University of Texas at Austin professors in an effort to block the state's new campus carry law "baseless" and said he plans to "vigorously defend it." Full Story
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Rudy Soliz did it for sex. Sergio Lopez Hernandez blamed depression and financial trouble. The crimes differ, but prosecutors say the actions they’re accused of weakened the U.S. borders and ports of entry they were tasked with protecting. Full Story
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Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax heard public testimony Wednesday on whether his department should allow insurers to offer lower rates for homeowners who agree to settle disputes through a mandatory mediation-arbitration process — effectively signing away their right to sue. Full Story
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The state’s environmental regulatory agency on Wednesday rebuffed a coalition of border residents and environmental activists who hoped to halt a coal mine from expanding its operations near the Rio Grande. Full Story
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