Based in Kansas City – more than 1,100 kilometres north of Baton Rouge – Long was a former Marine whose served a 2008-2009 tour of duty in Iraq.
Advertisement
The shooting started when Long turned the corner of the building and confronted two law enforcement officers and shot them both, killing one and wounding the other.
Three officers were killed and three others wounded in the 8-minute rampage.
Gerald’s cousin said the fallen officer was a role model to others. “It was a calculated act”. “Now that 10 law enforcement officers have been murdered in 10 days, what will you to keep our communities safe?”
When Gavin Long realised no one was inside, he retreated from the gas station parking lot and got back into his rented Chevrolet Malibu, according to Louisiana investigators who at a Monday afternoon news conference offered an extraordinary account of Sunday morning’s violence.
During the briefing Monday, Mayor Dabadie referred to the criticism authorities in Baton Rouge have received for the aggressive police response to protests that erupted there after Sterling’s death. Long carried two guns – an IWI Tavor semiautomatic 5.56-caliber rifle, which is an Israeli assault weapon, and a 9mm handgun, the colonel said – and had a second assault-style rifle in the auto. Gun raised and faced partially covered with a ski mask, he approached a parked police auto at the gas station and convenience store next door – only to find the unit empty. A 911 caller reported “a dude with a rifle going down Airline Highway”.
Undeterred, Long located another possible target at a nearby vehicle wash.
Long then ran back toward his vehicle, moving behind the businesses and at one point likely hopping a wall, Edmonson said. He said he was “stunned” by the shootings in Baton Rouge and found the events to be “not only professionally vexing, but emotionally taxing”.
Investigators said they were still looking for a small number of people for questioning.
“The police officers, their families, their spouses and children are all at a new heightened level of concern every time the spouse or family member leaves the home”, said Dean Angelo, FOP President.
The chief admitted the recent cop killings have taken a toll on himself and his officers. Dabadie said, “They went to the fire”.
With three officers dead, another city police officer caught Long’s attention as he rounded his way back behind the beauty supply store. Long, still yards away at the back of the gym, shot into the auto and struck the officer in his upper torso.
As Long approached his Chevrolet, he eyed a deputy who had just taken down his license plate and returned to his vehicle to call in the numbers.
According to law enforcement officials, Long was carrying a Washitaw Nation membership card during the shooting Sunday. The bullet shattered the bone between his shoulder to elbow, where he now has a titanium rod. Tullier’s injuries were even worse. He’s in critical condition, a machine helping him to breathe, “fighting for his life”, Gautreaux said.
“Our militarized tactics, as they’re being called, saved lives”, Chief Dabadie said.
“This guy was going to another location”.
Col. Robert Williams, Chief of the Maine State Police, said Monday that troopers are being more careful because they’re more anxious.
Racial tension in the United States has been especially high since a black former US Army Reserve soldier fatally shot five Dallas police officers who were patrolling a protest over the police shootings of Sterling and another black man in Minnesota.
Advertisement
While police officers were again left on edge this week, activists strongly decried the shooting in Baton Rouge, which left people in Louisiana’s capital city feeling shaken and uneasy.
