Every American town that is visited by the evil of a mass shooting goes into a state of shock.
But what happened in Dallas - unlike Orlando, Aurora, Newtown and all the others - represents a first for a country blighted by violence.
That the victims were those who had sworn to protect and serve represents a game-changer in the tense debate over how law enforcement deals with the public.
The officers died in the same week as two black men were very publicly gunned down by white officers.
It brought the Black Lives Matter campaign, simmering since Ferguson, back to the boil.
We will learn more about the motives of those who opened fire in Dallas, but such an attack on police should be a worry for everyone.
Dallas has been jolted in a way not seen for decades.
Just a few blocks from the scene of the shooting is Dealey Plaza, where a young, charismatic president was shot dead in broad, sunny daylight.
That day in 1963 brought infamy to Dallas. Thursday night brought it again at a moment when modern America is being forced to examine itself.
On the surface, the community has come together. The police cars surrounding the cordoned off downtown area have seen dozens of locals deliver food, drink and condolences.
In a country where people are encouraged to thank those in uniform for their service, Dallas has seen an outpouring of support for those in blue.
Not everyone is of the same mind.
Ashley Washington, a mother of three boys, was one of those on the march who ran for cover when the shooting began.
She told me of the terror she felt, the utter life-changing shock of experiencing for real "something you only ever see on TV".
But when I asked her what should happen next, she said the black community had to stand up for itself or "they will kill us all one by one".
By "they" she meant the police. The anger has not subsided.
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