Los Angeles residents hold peaceful protest of police shootings

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Hundreds of people were gathered in downtown Los Angeles Thursday for a peaceful protest of the killings in Louisiana and Minnesota when they heard the news about shootings of officers at a Dallas protest.

Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered on the steps of City Hall before peacefully taking to the streets of downtown L.A.

Peace was what the protest in Dallas was supposed to be until gunshots broke out. The gathering was in protest of two more black men recently shot and killed by police.

Randy Brooks of South L.A. came to the protest along with his 16-year-old daughter.

"I marched so that she wouldn't have to. I paid money so she wouldn't have to. I supported all these people all these years, all my effort, all my money, my efforts....and we're still here," Brooks said.

There were similar gatherings in cities across the country, including New York, Washington and outside St. Paul Minnesota where Wednesday, Philandro Castile was shot and killed. His girlfriend live-streamed the aftermath on Facebook.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton was pushing for a federal investigation into the shooting. The incident happened just one day after Alton Sterling was shot and killed by officers in Baton Rouge.

The reality of what happened in Dallas Thursday night, where five officers were killed and seven others were injured by snipers at the protest, weighed heavily on many local protesters and law enforcement.

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck post to Twitter saying, "#LAPD stands with the city of Dallas. We will wear our mourning bands in their honor. #PrayForDallas."