A peaceful Black Lives Matter rally moves through downtown Dallas on Thursday, July 7. Smiley Pool, a photographer with The Dallas Morning News, said what came near the beginning of the demonstration was a scene much different than what came hours later.
A peaceful Black Lives Matter rally moves through downtown Dallas on Thursday, July 7. Smiley Pool, a photographer with The Dallas Morning News, said what came near the beginning of the demonstration was a scene much different than what came hours later.
Smiley N. Pool/DallasNews.com
A woman with "Black Lives Matter" on her cheek joins other protesters. As the march began and although the police presence was considerable, Pool said everyone was positive.
A woman with "Black Lives Matter" on her cheek joins other protesters. As the march began and although the police presence was considerable, Pool said everyone was positive.
Smiley N. Pool/DallasNews.com
Jonasha Wright, 8, plays in a fountain a few feet away from a protest rally. "One of the very first photographs I was making was of a little girl spinning and twirling and smiling and laughing in a fountain in the park where the rally was. There she was, a few feet from this Black Lives Matter rally that was about to start, and she's just a little girl enjoying a summer day like every other little girl should be doing on a summer day."
Jonasha Wright, 8, plays in a fountain a few feet away from a protest rally. "One of the very first photographs I was making was of a little girl spinning and twirling and smiling and laughing in a fountain in the park where the rally was. There she was, a few feet from this Black Lives Matter rally that was about to start, and she's just a little girl enjoying a summer day like every other little girl should be doing on a summer day."
Smiley N. Pool/DallasNews.com
Bystanders run for cover after shots are fired just before 9 p.m. Thursday. Pool was editing his photos to file to his publication "and then just heard: 'POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP!' "
Bystanders run for cover after shots are fired just before 9 p.m. Thursday. Pool was editing his photos to file to his publication "and then just heard: 'POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP!' "
Smiley N. Pool/DallasNews.com
Dallas Police respond after shots are fired. Pool said, "At 8:47, I'm shooting the last stragglers from ground level moving down the street, mostly with the police coming back," he said. "At 8:55, I'm making photographs of police on the ground with their guns drawn because the shots had been fired."
Dallas Police respond after shots are fired. Pool said, "At 8:47, I'm shooting the last stragglers from ground level moving down the street, mostly with the police coming back," he said. "At 8:55, I'm making photographs of police on the ground with their guns drawn because the shots had been fired."
Smiley N. Pool/DallasNews.com
Dallas Police take position after shots are fired. Pool said the police were "very focused, very on their game." This image, showing a line of officers against the wall with their guns drawn, was made as Pool looked down the street while he was squeezed between some cars and behind a police officer for cover.
Dallas Police take position after shots are fired. Pool said the police were "very focused, very on their game." This image, showing a line of officers against the wall with their guns drawn, was made as Pool looked down the street while he was squeezed between some cars and behind a police officer for cover.
Smiley N. Pool/Dallasnews.com
Pool, describing the scene, said, "Even when the attack is going on, the officers are still protecting the public that was out there. First, it was protecting them from cars, now, they're protecting them from bullets."
Pool, describing the scene, said, "Even when the attack is going on, the officers are still protecting the public that was out there. First, it was protecting them from cars, now, they're protecting them from bullets."
Smiley N. Pool/Dallasnews.com
People look out of windows of a building as police lock down downtown. Pool noted there were about 20 to 30 rapid-fire shots, and then nothing, and emphasizes that he had no way of knowing who was doing the shooting, nor did he see everything that was happening.
People look out of windows of a building as police lock down downtown. Pool noted there were about 20 to 30 rapid-fire shots, and then nothing, and emphasizes that he had no way of knowing who was doing the shooting, nor did he see everything that was happening.
Smiley N. Pool/DallasNews.com
"People have asked me, 'What did you see?'" Pool said. "I saw that little window into what happened. I'm sure it looked different from down the street or around the corner. It's just one of those: You see what you see from where you are."
"People have asked me, 'What did you see?'" Pool said. "I saw that little window into what happened. I'm sure it looked different from down the street or around the corner. It's just one of those: You see what you see from where you are."
Smiley N. Pool/Dallasnews.com
Bystanders wait in a parking lot after being pushed back from the blocked-off area as police search downtown Dallas for suspects in the shooting. Police then worked to move everyone, including Pool, out of the area of the shooting and into safety. That's when the period of searching and waiting began.
Bystanders wait in a parking lot after being pushed back from the blocked-off area as police search downtown Dallas for suspects in the shooting. Police then worked to move everyone, including Pool, out of the area of the shooting and into safety. That's when the period of searching and waiting began.
Smiley N. Pool/DallasNews.com
People watch television reports on the shooting from outside the windows of a closed restaurant in downtown Dallas in the early morning hours of Friday, July 8. Ultimately, he describes the entire 12 hours as "surreal," and says this experience has served as a reminder of what is truly important in life. "Cherish the things that are dearest," Pool said. "I think I will focus on that for a moment."
People watch television reports on the shooting from outside the windows of a closed restaurant in downtown Dallas in the early morning hours of Friday, July 8. Ultimately, he describes the entire 12 hours as "surreal," and says this experience has served as a reminder of what is truly important in life. "Cherish the things that are dearest," Pool said. "I think I will focus on that for a moment."
Smiley N. Pool/DallasNews.com