Gavin Long, 29, a former marine, opened fire on multiple law enforcement officials Sunday morning in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, local news outlets are reporting.
Baton Rouge shooting kills multiple police officers: what we know
At least one gunman opened fire early Sunday morning.
According to ABC affiliate WBRZ, a gunman, face covered and wearing black, opened fire across from Hammond Aire Plaza, a local shopping center, at 9 am.
Six officers were shot. Three of the officers were killed: Baton Rouge police officer Montrell Jackson; Officer Matthew Gerald; Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola. At a Monday press conference, Gov. John Bel Edwards called the shooting a “diabolical attack on the very fabric of society.”
The situation is developing; we will update as more details become available.
What we know:
- The shooting took place around 9 am local Baton Rouge time on Sunday.
- Hours later, the Louisiana state police announced the shooter was no longer active.
- The suspect who was killed by law enforcement in a shootout has been identified as Gavin Long, 29, from Kansas City, Missouri. Previous reports claimed Long was an active member of New Freedom Group, an anti-government group, but Mark Potok from the Southern Poverty Law Center told Vox Monday that he "doubts there is such a thing." Court documents did show that Long identified with the Washitaw Nation, which SPLC verified exists to Vox.
- Col. Mike Edmonson of the Louisiana State police confirmed Monday that officials said Long was armed with three guns, including and IWI Tavor SAR 5.56 caliber rifle and a Stag Arms m4 Variant 5.56 caliber rifle.
- Col. Edmonson confirmed that Long had been in Baton Rouge for "several days." Law enforcement officials, however, are currently trying to piece together his whereabouts prior to 8:40 am local Baton Rouge time.
- State police said Monday that Long was "certainly seeking out police." Col. Edmonson said the area where the shooting took place was one that officers frequented to get coffee and clean their cars. It was also near Baton Rouge police headquarters.
- Col. Edmonson said he was "confident" Long was the only shooter involved. Officers did detain two men at a Walmart in Port Allen, Louisiana, after receiving a 911 call regarding two men who entered, dressed in black, and changed their clothes inside the store on Sunday. On Monday, officials confirmed that people are being questioned. It has not been confirmed whether those men are connected to the shooting.
- Six officers were shot. The three officers who were killed were Baton Rouge police officer Montrell Jackson, 32; Officer Matthew Gerald, 41; Sheriff's Deputy Brad Garafola, 45. At least one sheriff's deputy is in critical condition.
- The Baton Rouge Police Department has been under scrutiny in recent weeks after video surfaced of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, being killed by Baton Rouge police officers Blaine Salamoni and Howie Lake on July 5. Protests have ensued around the country since, and the American Civil Liberties Union is currently suing the department for violating black people’s rights to protest.
- Similarly, police departments have been on edge after Micah X. Johnson, a sniper, killed five police officers in Dallas on July 7 at the tail end of a protest for Sterling and Philando Castile, 32, who was killed by police in Minnesota.
What we don’t know:
- The motivation behind the shooting
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