Baton Rouge attack planned with military precision
BATON ROUGE gunman Gavin Long hunted police with “efficiency and determination,” circling around an industrial complex and stalking officers before being killed by a Swat marksman 100 yards away.
In the first official account of Long’s actions, officials in the Louisiana capital said there was no doubt that the gunman, who carried two assault-style rifles and a hand gun, had arrived in the city specifically to kill police.
Baton Rouge was the scene of protests following the death in the city of Alton Sterling on July 5, followed by the killing of Philando Castile in Min- nesota – both black men killed by police. In retaliation, five police were murdered in Dallas the next day.
“This is not what justice looks like - for Alton Sterling or anyone else,” said John Bel Edwards, governor of Louisiana. “It is pure, unadulterated evil.”
Long, a 29-year-old former marine, travelled to Baton Rouge from Kansas City “several days” before the attack to scout out sites, and used all of his military training to lethal effect.
Police are still investigating whether he had accomplices, but are confident that Long, was the sole gunman.
Brad Garafola, a 45-year-old father of four, was working on his last shift before going on holiday with his wife Tonja. He was killed as he went to help two other colleagues, Montrell Jackson, 32, and Matthew Gerald, 41.
Long then shot a fourth officer, Nicholas Tullier, 41, in the head. Mr Tullier remains in intensive care.
“He was not going to stop here,” said Carl Dabadie, chief of Baton Rouge police. “I have no doubt he was heading to our headquarters. He was going to take more lives.”
Baltimore prosecutors yesterday failed for the fourth time to secure a conviction against a police officer for the death of black detainee Freddie Gray. The acquittal of Lt Brian Rice renews questions about the prospects for the remaining cases stemming from the death of Mr Gray in April 2015.