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Surviving Dallas officer recounts trying to save colleagues

Dallas Police Department Officer Jorge Barrientos, left, is pictured recovering at his home with his girlfriend, Bethany Knutson, Sunday, July 10, 2016, in Dallas. Barrientos was shot in the hand and struck by shrapnel when a gunman attacked officers at a protest against police brutality July 7, 2016. He recounted desperately trying to help fellow officers who were shot, including three from his unit who died. (AP Photo/Christine Armario)
Dallas Police Department Officer Jorge Barrientos, left, is pictured recovering at his home with his girlfriend, Bethany Knutson, Sunday, July 10, 2016, in Dallas. Barrientos was shot in the hand and struck by shrapnel when a gunman attacked officers at a protest against police brutality July 7, 2016. He recounted desperately trying to help fellow officers who were shot, including three from his unit who died. (AP Photo/Christine Armario) Dallas Police Department Officer Jorge Barrientos, left, is pictured recovering at his home with his girlfriend, Bethany Knutson, Sunday, July 10, 2016, in Dallas. Barrientos was shot in the hand and struck by shrapnel when a gunman attacked officers at a protest against police brutality July 7, 2016. He recounted desperately trying to help fellow officers who were shot, including three from his unit who died. (AP Photo/Christine Armario)

By Associated Press 6 min read

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DALLAS (AP) – Officer Jorge Barrientos never saw the gunman.

The assailant announced himself with a loud, single burst of fire from a rifle, just as Barrientos and his colleagues from the Fox Trot Unit of the Dallas Police Department were finishing directing traffic away from protesters at a march downtown.

The shot hit Officer Michael Krol, who stood just a few feet away from Barrientos. Krol screamed and fell to the ground.

Then the bullets began to fly.

They whizzed to the left and right, over his head and seemingly from every direction. Barrientos, 28, dropped to the ground, trying to make his way toward Krol and get cover. Not far away, two other officers from his unit lay shot and bleeding.