New Series Premiere of ‘Shooter’ Is Delayed After Dallas Sniper Attack

7/12/2016
Updated:
7/12/2016

Following the recent tragedies throughout the nation, USA Network has decided to postpone the premiere date of its new series “Shooter.”

“In light of recent tragic events and out of respect for the victims, their families, and our viewers, we have decided to postpone the premiere date for the upcoming USA Network series ‘Shooter,’” the network said, according to Hollywood Reporter.

“Shooter” is based on the novel “Point of Impact” by Stephen Hunter, which spawned a 2007 film adaptation, also named “Shooter,” starring Mark Wahlberg.

This version stars Ryan Phillippe—who is also a producer on the project—as sniper Bob Lee Swagger. 

In the series, Swagger is a former Marine who is asked to help find an assassin intent on killing the president—which turns out to be a ploy when Swagger is falsely accused as the triggerman. He then uses his skills as a sharpshooter to escape capture and find those who have set him up. Omar Epps, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Shantel Vansanten, and Eddie McClintock also star in the show. 

The drama series was scheduled to begin on July 19 at 10 p.m. It is now scheduled to premiere the following week, on July 26.

Dallas Shooting

Gunfire broke out in Downtown Dallas on the evening of July 7 as hundreds of protesters gathered to demonstrate against the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Philando Castile in St. Paul, Minnesota. Authorities identified the Dallas shooter as 25-year-old Micah Johnson, a U.S. army veteran.

Johnson mortally wounded five officers and injured seven others, as well as two civilians before he was killed by a bomb delivered by a robot. The 25-year-old told police he was angry over the killings of black men and wanted to kill white people—especially white officers—according to Dallas Police Chief David Brown.

A search of Johnson’s home in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite uncovered a personal arsenal of bomb-making materials, rifles, ammunition, and a journal of combat tactics, according to law enforcement.