Suspect in Baton Rouge police murders Gavin Long,
pictured above in 2005 Grandview yearbook photo, and below in
a YouTube video posted on July 10, 2016.
by Mary Wilson
The man who fatally shot three law enforcement officers in
Baton Rouge, La., and wounded three others before being killed by the police on
Sunday morning “was targeting officers,” Louisiana state police officials said
Monday.
The three officers killed Sunday were: Montrell L. Jackson,
32, a 10-year veteran of the Baton Rouge Police Department, who was married
with a new baby at home; Matthew Gerald, 41, who had served with the Baton
Rouge Police Department for less than a year; and Brad Garafola, 45, an East
Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy and a father of four. Of the officers who
were wounded, one was “fighting for his life” in the hospital on Monday.
Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, Colonel Michael
D. Edmonson, said in a news conference that his department is confident that
the suspect, 29-year-old Gavin Long of Kansas City, was the only shooter in the
incidents that took place in Baton Rouge, LA.
“When he engaged those police officers, he was deliberate
and extremely accurate,” said Edmonson.
According to Baton Rouge police, three guns were taken from Long,
and they recovered a rented Chevy Malibu with Missouri plates from the scene. Edmonson
added that one of the more challenging things in this case will be the
examination of Long’s social media, including posts and activity on his
accounts after the crime took place.
“Three officers are dead, one is fighting for his life, we
owe it to them to do it right and get it right,” said. Edmondson.
According to Long’s YouTube videos, under the pseudonym Cosmo
Setepenra, he believed the world is run by devils and that “it takes one
revolutionary to stand up against oppression and sacrifice.” He also believed
that 100% of revolutions have been “successful through fighting back, through
bloodshed. Zero have been successful by simply protesting.” It is believed that
while he was in Baton Rouge, Long was specifically and intentionally looking to
engage with police officers.
Long attended Grandview Schools beginning at Conn-West in
1996, for fourth and fifth grades. He then attended Grandview Middle School,
and ultimately graduated from Grandview High School in 2005. According to
Grandview High School’s yearbooks from his high school career, Long was not
involved in clubs or organizations outside of normal curriculum.
Long joined the Marines in 2005 and served until 2010,
according to military records obtained by the Associated Press. He rose to the
rank of sergeant and served in Iraq from June 2008 to January 2009. Records
show he received several medals, including one for good conduct. Long received
an honorable discharge and was listed as a “data network specialist.”
Since then, Long claimed to be a world traveler, spending
the last two years in Africa before recently returning to his home in Kansas
City, at 1166 E 77th Ter., where records show he has lived since
2012.
“With our partners from local, state and national agencies,
we will leave no stone unturned. This is a unified team,” said a federal
investigator during Monday’s news conference. “This will only make us stronger.
We will work tirelessly to ensure safety in this community and throughout the
nation.”
Anyone with information related to the suspect or the Baton
Rouge investigation is encouraged to call 800-CALL-FBI.
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