Rangers’ Gallo honors slain Dallas police officer with moving post

Rangers prospect Joey Gallo recalled a pleasant encounter with a Dallas police officer who was slain in Thursday’s shootings.

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Rangers prospect Joey Gallo recalled a pleasant encounter with a Dallas police officer who was slain in Thursday’s shootings, honoring him with an Instagram post.

Gallo shared a story in which he and Rangers rookie outfielder Nomar Mazara met officer Patrick Zamarripa on the street in downtown Dallas earlier this year.

According to the caption, Zamarripa asked Gallo and Mazara for a photo and discussed sports with them. Gallo shared a photo of the trio taken that night.

Zamarripa, 32, was a Navy veteran who had served three tours in Iraq, and a father of a two-year-old girl, according to the New York Daily News.

Zamarripa was one of five police officers shot and killed by gunmen who opened fire at a protest in Dallas on Thursday evening.

The protest was arranged to be an organized response to the recent police killings of black men Alton Sterling and Philando Castile this past week. The peaceful demonstration turned violent when the shooters opened fire on police officers. A total of 12 officers were shot, leaving five dead and seven injured. Two civilians were also wounded in the gunfire.

One suspect was killed after a shootout with police, and three additional suspects are in custody.