The following was read by Assistant Chief Randall Blankenbaker

On behalf of the women and men of the Dallas Police Department, I would like to thank the citizens of our great city for the outpouring of support they have shown for Officer Joshua Burns. I’d also like to express the Department’s appreciation for the well wishes that have come in from other police departments. And our gratitude to the local media that acted quickly to tell the story of our wounded officer and post the photo of the suspect in this afternoon’s shooting.

I am pleased to announce that at approximately 6pm, Suspect Rakeem Perkins surrendered to the Metro Unit and Homicide detectives here at police headquarters. He was accompanied by his mother, an aunt and a family friend at the time he was taken into custody. Prior to arriving at Headquarters, his mother had contacted one of our homicide detectives to report that she had made contact with Suspect Perkins and she was bringing him in to surrender. She made us aware that he had suffered a gunshot wound so we had an ambulance standing by awaiting his arrival. Upon his arrival, he was taken into custody without incident, placed into the waiting ambulance and transported to a local hospital.

At this time, we anticipate filing two charges of aggravated assault on a public servant against Suspect Perkins. This charge is a First Degree Felony. In addition to the criminal charges against Perkins, the Department will follow its standard investigative protocol that is conducted for all police involved shootings.