DHS secretary: ‘There’s a lot of anxiety in this country right now’

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson early Sunday said that “there’s a lot of anxiety” following a week of violence and protests.

{mosads}During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Johnson would not discuss the suspect’s motive in the shooting deaths of five Dallas police officers last week, saying the investigation is “still early.”

“We are investigating every aspect of this shooter’s life. I suspect we’re going to know a lot more very quickly. But in any investigation like this, you want to make sure you have the facts right,” Johnson said.

“This is a terrible act. This is the murder of five brave police officers. We mourn them. We stand with their families during this tragedy,” he added.

Johnson also said it is a time for “healing” in the nation and “coming together.”

“There is a lot of anxiety in this country right now,” he said. “ But at a moment like this we need to take the opportunity to come together, develop community relations across the country with police departments and the like.

“This was a terrible heinous act, and we need to stand with our law enforcement officers. They’re there to protect us and to serve the public, and let’s not forget that.”

–This report was updated at 2:17 p.m.