Cuba Gooding Jr. Says He Broke Down in Tears When He Realized Connection to One of the Slain Dallas Officers

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. revealed he broke down and cried when he realized his connection to one of the officers killed in last week’s tragic Dallas shooting.

Only a few months ago, Gooding Jr. ran into Officer Patrick Zamarripa and posed for a picture with him while he was on patrol.

“I cried today when I heard that,” Gooding Jr. told TMZ. “I cried. That’s all I’ll say.”

Here’s the image Zamarripa posted on Twitter in February:

The great @cubagoodingjr . Thanx for taking the pic with my partner and I. Hope your stay in #Dallas was great sir! pic.twitter.com/8q5toocBXD

— Patrick Zamarripa (@PatrickEZ01) February 25, 2016

Zamarripa was one of five police officers killed in a targeted attack on cops in downtown Dallas on Thursday night. Another seven officers were injured.

The shooter has been identified by police as 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson. Dallas Police Chief David Brown said investigators found bomb-making materials, rifles, ammunition and a journal of combat tactics at the shooter’s home.

Brown also said Johnson appeared to have plans for a larger attack. Johnson’s goal, the police chief said was to “make us pay for what he sees as law enforcement’s efforts to punish people of color.”

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