Dallas police department says officer and former high school teacher was 'executed' in line of duty

The Dallas Police Department confirmed that police officer Darron Burks was shot and killed in the line of duty. 

"As a department and as a family, we are devastated," Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said during a Friday press conference. "Last night we lost a brother, a hero. Officer Darron Burks was a son, a nephew, a friend to many, and he was senselessly and tragically murdered in the line of duty."

Besides being an officer, Burks used to be a high school teacher. 

On Thursday, Burks was killed in a shooting near the Oak Cliff Community Center. Two other officers were wounded. 

The shooter has been identified as 30-year-old Corey Cobb-Bey, according to Fox News. He was later killed in a shootout following a high-speed chase. 

Garcia described what happened during the incident: "Cobb-Bey approached Burks and talked with him briefly at the driver's side of the window as he recorded the encounter with a cellphone," he said. "The suspect then pulled out a handgun and executed Officer Burks as he sat in his vehicle."

"We came close to losing other officers," Garcia said. "Officers who put their lives on the line to protect their brother, and it is by the grace of God that they are still with us today."

It is being reported that Cobb-Bey purposely targeted the officers.