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Baton Rouge police shooting suspect reportedly identified as Gavin Eugene Long

The investigation is ongoing.

 

April Siese

Tech

Posted on Jul 17, 2016   Updated on May 26, 2021, 10:49 am CDT

Louisiana law enforcement has reportedly named the suspect in the Sunday morning Baton Rouge shooting. According to the Associated Press, the gunman who killed three officers and injured three others before being fatally shot has been identified as Gavin Eugene Long.

Long, who hails from Kansas City, Missouri, appears to have had no prior violent infractions. A cursory search revealed no criminal records in Missouri for the shooter, who turned 29 on Sunday. He was divorced from his former wife, whose name is being withheld, in May 2011. She successfully petitioned to have her maiden name restored.

It’s similarly unclear whether Long had any connection to the protests following the death of Alton Sterling, who was fatally shot by law enforcement on July 5 in Louisiana’s capital city.

Two other persons of interest have been detained by police in nearby Addis and are being questioned. More questions than answers remain, as the investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing.

Whether he acted alone or had an agenda, Long’s actions have been thoroughly condemned by President Obama, who addressed the American public in a speech later Sunday afternoon:

“As of right now, we don’t know the motive of the killer. We don’t know whether the killer was set out to kill police officers or whether he gunned them down as they responded to a call. Regardless of motive, the death of these three brave officers underscores the dangers that police across the country confront every single day. And we as a nation have to be loud and clear that nothing justifies violence against law enforcement. Attacks on police are an attack on all of us.”

Update 6:59pm CT, July 17: According to Nathan Vickers of Kansas City CBS affiliate KCTV, Long served in the military for five years. A decorated sergeant, Long was the recipient of the Marine Corps Good Conduct medal, Iraq Campaign medal, Sea Service Deployment ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service medal, National Defense Service medal and the Navy Unit Commendation medal.

This story is rapidly developing…

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*First Published: Jul 17, 2016, 6:11 pm CDT