What began as a peaceful demonstration against police violence in Dallas Thursday night turned into a deadly ambush against police, leaving five officers dead and Americans dazed yet again in the face of gun violence and tragedy.
The nation was already reeling from news of police officers shooting black men, one in Louisiana, where Alton Sterling was shot point blank while on the ground in police custody. In St. Paul, Minnesota, Philando Castile, was shot after telling the officer that he was licensed and armed.
A video shot by his girlfriend, who was in the passenger seat of their car, was posted on Facebook, sparking protests.
Before news of the shooting in Dallas, protests sprung up, including one in Minnesota, where Castile was shot during a traffic stop.