"We have relied and partnered with federal agencies, state agencies to get to all of those issues, but it would be unwise at this point to definitely rule some things in, some things out," Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said. | AP Photo Dallas mayor: Terrorism can't be ruled out

The possibility that the mass shooting of police officers and civilians in Dallas on Thursday night was an act of terrorism is not off the table, Mayor Mike Rawlings said Friday morning.

Rawlings, who appeared on a series of local and national television programs to deliver updates on the massacre, was asked on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" whether he could rule out terrorism as a possible motive for the shootings, which came toward the end of a peaceful rally protesting the deaths of black men at the hands of police in Louisiana and Minnesota.


"I cannot," Rawlings responded. "We are not ruling anything out."

Asked whether that would include "possible involvement by outside terror groups like ISIS," Rawlings replied, "As I said, we are not ruling anything out until we come to the answer."

"We have relied and partnered with federal agencies, state agencies to get to all of those issues, but it would be unwise at this point to definitely rule some things in, some things out," he said.