Authorities have identified a former U.S. Marine in the killings of three Baton Rouge Police officers and injuring two others.
Officials say the gunman, 29-year-old Gavin Long died at the scene. He drove to Louisiana from his home in Kansas City, Missouri when officals say he opened fire on the officers. The officers are identified as Montrell Jackson, Brad Garafola, and Matthew Gerald from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Department.
Pentagon officials say Long served as a data network specialist in the Marines, where he held the rank of sergeant. He also served 8 months in Iraq starting in summer of 2008.
According to the Associated Press, two “persons of interest” were detained in the case. Louisiana State Police said the individuals were released and no charges had been filed.
President Obama responded to the officers’ deaths calling for unity and denouncing ‘inflammatory rhetoric’. “Regardless of motive, the death of these three brave officers underscores the danger that police across the country confront every single day.”
Less than two weeks after the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling by police in Baton Rouge, his family continues to call for peace.
