‘Like a little war’: Protesters recall chaos as downtown Dallas transformed into scene of running gun battle
Protesters who had come to speak out against violence by police now found themselves in the crosshairs of violence apparently aimed at officers
After a peaceful march, the scene suddenly exploded into violence on Thursday when gunshots echoed through the streets, sending protesters and police officers alike scattering for cover. Bullets started flying, the crack of high-powered ammunition cannoning off skyscrapers and across downtown Dallas. Terrified protesters scattered in all directions as startled cops gazed up in search of the origin of the shots.
Police officers started shooting in one direction, and whoever was shooting started shooting back. And that’s where the war began
By the time it was over, at least five Dallas law enforcement officers were killed and seven wounded after “snipers” opened fire from “elevated positions”.
Protester Lynn Mays recalled the chaos that took hold when the shooting began.
“All of a sudden we started hearing gunshots out of nowhere,” he told the Dallas Morning News. “At first we couldn’t identify it because we weren’t expecting it, then we started hearing more, rapid fire. One police officer who was standing there pushed me out the way because it was coming our direction … next thing you know we heard ‘officer down’.
“Police officers started shooting in one direction, and whoever was shooting started shooting back. And that’s where the war began.”
Protesters who had come to speak out against violence by police now found themselves in the crosshairs of violence apparently aimed at police. Bystanders captured footage of cops dragging fallen comrades out of the line of fire.
Renee Sifflet, a mother of three teenagers who attended the rally and march, said she lost track of one of her children during the ensuing chaos.
“I brought them here for a positive experience, something they could say they were part of when they’re older, ” she said. “Then it turned negative.”