2016 shooting of Baton Rouge police officers

The shooting occurred during a period of unrest in Baton Rouge, though it is unclear if the events are related.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/17/486368681/sheriffs-office-multiple-officers-shot-in-baton-rogue-louisiana|title=Motive In Baton Rouge Police Slayings Still Unclear, Investigators Say|work=NPR|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|first=Merrit|last=Kennedy}} Baton Rouge was experiencing ongoing protests following the officer-involved killing of Alton Sterling less than two weeks before on July 5.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/baton-rouge-police-reports-multiple-officers-shot-n611101 |work=NBC News |title=Three Baton Rouge Officers Killed, Three Injured in 'Ambush' |date=July 17, 2016 |access-date=July 17, 2016 |first1=Jacquellena |last1=Carrero |first2=Elisha |last2=Fieldstadt |first3=Gabe |last3=Gutierrez}}{{cite news |url=http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/07/3_police_officers_dead_in_bato.html |title=Baton Rouge shooting leaves 3 police officers dead |date=July 17, 2016 |work=The Times-Picayune |access-date=July 17, 2016 |first=Jonathan |last=Bullington}} On July 7, the FBI's New Orleans field office issued a warning about "threats to law enforcement and potential threats to the safety of the general public" stemming from the death of Sterling.{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-officers-dead-shooting-baton-rouge/story?id=40646533 |title=Gunman Identified in Shooting That Killed 3 Baton Rouge Officers |work=ABC News |date=July 17, 2016 |access-date=July 17, 2016 |first1=Emily |last1=Shapiro |first2=Michael Edison |last2=Hayden |first3=Paul |last3=Blake}} Within the previous week, four suspects were arrested in connection with an alleged plot to kill Baton Rouge police officers, which was described as a credible threat by law enforcement officials.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/baton-rouge-police-officers-shot-wounded-airline-highway/|title=3 police killed, 3 more wounded in Baton Rouge|work=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016}} Ten days earlier, five police officers were killed in a mass shooting in Dallas.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/17/baton-rouge-gunman-gavin-e-long-cosmo-setepenra-marines|title=Baton Rouge suspect Gavin Long was marine with alias Cosmo Setepenra|access-date=July 17, 2016|first=Jon|last=Swaine|date=July 17, 2016|work=The Guardian|quote=His history of rambling postings indicated that the attack was motivated at least in part by killings by police of black Americans (which is true)in recent years and the resulting unrest.}}

File:2016 shooting of Baton Rouge police officers map of area around Airline Highway Baton Rouge, LA.png near I-12.
{{color box|#009900}} Hammond Aire Plaza, where Long began the shooting sometime before 8:40 a.m.

{{color box|#FF0000}} The area around B-Quik convenience store and Hair Crown Beauty Supply where Long shot six police officers, killing three, until he was shot and killed by SWAT at 8:48 a.m.

{{color box|#0000FF}} The Baton Rouge Police Department headquarters, where protests in response to the police killing of Alton Sterling took place in the weeks prior to the shooting by Long.]]

Long arrived at Hammond Aire Plaza, a shopping complex on Airline Highway, sometime before 8:40 a.m. CT and began scouting the area in search of police officers. He first spotted a police patrol vehicle parked at a B-Quik convenience store; it belonged to a sheriff's deputy who was working security in the area. Long parked his vehicle behind an adjacent building, got out, and prepared to shoot, but found that the vehicle was empty. He then drove north and noticed a police officer washing his vehicle a short distance away, but the officer left before Long could get close.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/baton-rouge-police-ambush/baton-rouge-gunman-gavin-long-stalked-cops-military-focus-police-n611901|title=Baton Rouge Gunman Gavin Long Stalked Cops With Military Focus, Police Say|work=NBC News|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 18, 2016|first=Jon|last=Schuppe}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/07/17/us/what-happened-in-the-shooting-of-police-officers-in-baton-rouge.html |title=How the Shooting of Police Officers in Baton Rouge Unfolded |work=The New York Times |first1=Larry |last1=Buchanan |first2=Joe |last2=Burgess |first3=Ford |last3=Fessenden |date=July 17, 2016 |access-date=July 17, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/18/us/baton-rouge-police-shooting/|title='Helluva' shot stopped gunman in Baton Rouge, officials say|work=CNN|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 18, 2016|first1=Steve|last1=Visser|first2=Ashley|last2=Fantz|first3=Joshua|last3=Berlinger|quote=Long served from August 22, 2005, to August 1, 2010, according to the little information the military has released.}}

By 8:40{{nbsp}}a.m., police received a call about a suspicious person carrying a rifle near the plaza. However, due to Louisiana's open carry law at the time, the potential threat of Long was downplayed, with one dispatcher describing him as a "subject walking with a coat and an assault rifle." Authorities were going to question him and had no probable cause to take him into custody.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_83d7317a-5b60-11e6-84b4-13cf89c9f22f.html|title=Baton Rouge police shooting brings renewed attention to Louisiana's 'open carry' rights|work=The Advocate|date=August 6, 2016|access-date=August 6, 2016|first1=Maya|last1=Lau|first2=Jim|last2=Mustian}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/opinion/james_gill/article_d76579ee-5e41-11e6-abe1-6b54631c47dd.html|title=James Gill: Civilians carrying 'ultimate weapon' Gavin Long used in Baton Rouge would be regarded worldwide as insane|work=The Advocate|date=August 11, 2016|access-date=August 13, 2016|first=James|last=Gill|author-link=James Gill (columnist)}}

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Long clad in black and wearing a face mask behind the Hair Crown Beauty Supply store on the 9600 block of Airline Highway. Shots were reportedly fired two minutes later. Another two minutes afterwards, there were reports that officers were down.

According to investigators, Long fired upon the first responding officers, fatally wounding three. He first shot and killed a police officer, and shot and wounded his partner who fell to the ground. A third officer tried to help the wounded policeman, but Long engaged him in a gunfight as he approached, and killed him with multiple gunshot wounds. Long then shot the first wounded officer twice more, killing him as well. Long then turned around and shot another police officer standing outside a store and then moved to another part of the complex, where he shot and wounded two sheriff's deputies who were investigating his car. At 8:46{{nbsp}}a.m., he was reported to be near Benny's Car Wash. Officers fired on Long from behind the cover of patrol cars. Eventually, a SWAT team responded to the scene; one member took aim at Long from about {{convert|100|yd|m}} away and killed him at about 8:48{{nbsp}}a.m. Louisiana State Police said Long was the only person involved in the shooting. The entire shooting lasted for less than ten minutes.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_6b8c71a6-71ff-11e6-bd33-870166189b78.html?sr_source=lift_amplify|title='Nick is our priority': Flooded home another tragedy for injured Baton Rouge deputy Nick Tullier's family|publisher=The Advocate|agency=Associated Press|date=September 3, 2016|access-date=September 9, 2016|first=Michael|last=Kunzelman}}

During the gunfight, the assailant discharged his weapons a total of 43 times, meanwhile the police discharged a combined total of 106 rounds, 45 of which struck the assailant, slaying him.{{Cite web |last=Hanna |first=Jason |date=2017-07-01 |title=Baton Rouge cop killer left note, fired at least 43 rounds |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/30/us/baton-rouge-gavin-long-police-killings/index.html |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=CNN |language=en}}

Officers used a robot to check Long's body for explosives. A preliminary investigation determined that Long was targeting officers and ignoring civilians.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/us/baton-rouge-shooting.html |title=Baton Rouge Gunman 'Was Targeting Officers,' Police Say |work=The New York Times |date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=July 18, 2016 |first1=Richard |last1=Fausset |first2=Christine |last2=Hauser |first3=John |last3=Eligon}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/07/18/details-emerge-about-suspected-baton-rouge-gunman-who-had-endorsed-violence-in-online-videos/ |title=Police: Officers in Baton Rouge were 'targeted and assassinated' |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=July 18, 2016 |first1=Mark |last1=Berman |first2=Adam |last2=Goldman}} A preliminary autopsy indicated that in addition to being shot by the SWAT officer, Long suffered multiple other gunshot wounds.{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/07/baton_rouge_shooter_gavin_long_1.html|title=Autopsy says Baton Rouge shooter Gavin Long shot multiple times|work=The Times-Picayune|date=July 20, 2016|access-date=July 20, 2016|first=Diana|last=Samuels}} The autopsy also found traces of crystal meth and a low level of alcohol in his system.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-08 |title=Gavin Long was looking for 2 officers involved in Alton Sterling shoo… |url=https://archive.today/20250108184247/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/gavin-long-was-looking-for-2-officers-involved-in-alton-sterling-shooting-during-2016-attack/article_5d0cd146-5dc9-11e7-bed4-6f2b3845350e.html |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=archive.ph}}

Police recovered from the crime scene an IWI Tavor SAR 5.56x45-caliber semi-automatic rifle and a Springfield Armory XD 9mm pistol. A third weapon—a Stag Arms M4-type 5.56-caliber semi-automatic rifle—was recovered from Long's rental Malibu.{{cite news|first=Bart|last=Jansen|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/07/18/3-officers-shot-and-killed-baton-rouge/87239118/|title=Police: "sheer brutality" as 3 officers slain in Baton Rouge ambush|work=USA Today|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 18, 2016}} Officials believed Long had intentions of attacking the Baton Rouge police headquarters and continuing to kill officers.

Two Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) officers and one East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff's deputy were killed in the shooting, while three others, a police officer and two sheriff's deputies (Police Officer Chad Montgomery was grazed by a single bullet in the head, Sheriff's Deputy Cpl. Nicholas Tullier was shot and wounded three times in the head, abdomen and upper arm (Tullier later succumbed to his injuries on 05-05-2022{{cite web | url=https://www.odmp.org/officer/26163-sergeant-nicholas-w-tullier | title=Sergeant Nicholas W. Tullier }}), and Sgt. Bruce Simmons was hit once in the left arm) were injured.{{cite news|title=What we know, don't know after Baton Rouge officer shooting|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_70595fc8-4c2a-11e6-8d54-8fde922185e6.html|access-date=July 17, 2016|work=The Advocate|location=Baton Rouge, Louisiana|date=July 17, 2016|first=Maya|last=Lau}} The injured were transported to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, which said it received five patients from the shooting, three of whom later died from multiple gunshot wounds. Of the surviving two, one was in critical condition, being on life support as of August 3,{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/03/us/tullier-baton-rouge-father/|title=Baton Rouge officer's father writes touching Facebook post|work=CNN|date=August 3, 2016|access-date=August 3, 2016|first=Madison|last=Park}} and the other in fair condition.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-baton-rouge-police-shooting-20160717-story.html|title=Baton Rouge shooting: 3 officers killed, suspect dead|work=Chicago Tribune|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016}} The third injured officer was transported to Baton Rouge General Medical Center and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.{{cite news|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/breakingnews/3-baton-rouge-police-killed-in-shooting-1-suspect-dead/ar-BBuq8lz|title=3 Baton Rouge officers killed in shooting; suspect dead|publisher=MSN|agency=Associated Press|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720073113/http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/breakingnews/3-baton-rouge-police-killed-in-shooting-1-suspect-dead/ar-BBuq8lz|archive-date=July 20, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} The critically injured officer was moved to TIRR Memorial Hermann, a recovery facility in Houston, Texas, on November 16.{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/11/nick_tullier_injured_east_bato.html|title=Baton Rouge deputy wounded in July police shooting moving to Houston rehab facility|work=The Times-Picayune|date=November 16, 2016|access-date=November 21, 2016|first=Diana|last=Samuels}}

The officers killed were identified as:

• Deputy Bradford Allen 'Brad' Garafola, 45, who had been with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office since 1992.{{cite news |url=http://www.witn.com/content/news/Officers-dead-in-Baton-Rouge-shooting-387173971.html |title=Baton Rouge shooter was a former Marine sergeant |publisher=WITN-TV |location=Washington, North Carolina |agency=Associated Press |date=July 17, 2016 |access-date=July 17, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://obits.theadvocate.com/amp/obituaries/theadvocate/180746140|title=Bradford Garafola Obituary (1971 - 2016) - The Advocate|website=obits.theadvocate.com}}
• Officer Matthew Lane Gerald, 41, a Marine who had been with the BRPD for four months.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/latest-on-the-shooting-of-baton-rouge-police-officers/|title=Latest on the shooting of Baton Rouge police officers|work=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://obits.theadvocate.com/amp/obituaries/theadvocate/180725799|title=Matthew Gerald Obituary (1975-2016) - The Advocate|website=obits.theadvocate.com}}
• Corporal Montrell Lyle Jackson, 32, who had been with the BRPD since 2006.{{cite news|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_896548d2-4c53-11e6-aadf-f3dd9ad12016.html|title='Humble, kind, sweet,' new dad Montrell Jackson one of Baton Rouge officers killed in attack|work=The Advocate|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|first1=Steve|last1=Hardy|first2=Jim|last2=Mustian}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_b85bee82-55c9-11e6-8d93-cb09b680aae5.html|title=Cousin of slain Baton Rouge officer Montrell Jackson one of men detained during police shootings|work=The Advocate|date=July 29, 2016|access-date=July 31, 2016|first=Terry L.|last=Jones}}{{Cite web|url=https://obits.theadvocate.com/amp/obituaries/theadvocate/180735547|title=Montrell Jackson Obituary (2016) - The Advocate|website=obits.theadvocate.com}}
• Sergeant Nicholas Tullier, 46, succumbed to his injuries on May 5, 2022, he was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office.{{cite web | url=https://www.odmp.org/officer/26163-sergeant-nicholas-w-tullier | title=Sergeant Nicholas W. Tullier }}

{{Infobox criminal

| name = Gavin Eugene Long

| image = File:Gavin Long - shot 6 police officers in Baton Rouge on July 17 2016.png

| image_upright =

| image_size = 165px

| alt =

| caption = Long in a video on July 10, 2016, a week before he committed the shooting.

| alias = Cosmo Ausar Setepenra

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1987|7|17|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|7|17|1987|7|17|mf=yes}}

| residence =

| death_place = Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.

| death_cause = Gunshot wounds by police

| education = Central Texas College
Clark Atlanta University
University of Alabama

}}

Gavin Eugene Long (July 17, 1987 – July 17, 2016) was identified as the shooter. He was a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. In May 2015, Long filed papers in Jackson County, Missouri, to change his legal name to Cosmo Ausar Setepenra, but court officials there said he never completed the process of legally changing his name.{{cite news |first1=Ned |last1=Parker |first2=Mark |last2=Hosenball |date=July 18, 2016 |title=Baton Rouge shooter said he was member of anti-government group: documents|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-police-domesticsecurity-idUSKCN0ZY24V|website=Reuters|access-date=July 19, 2016}}{{cite news |first=Joshua |last=Berlinger |title=Gavin Long: Who is Baton Rouge cop killer? |date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=July 18, 2016 |website=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/18/us/who-is-gavin-long/}} Long was believed to have traveled more than {{convert|700|mi|km}} from his hometown to Baton Rouge using a rental car.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/investigators-scour-baton-rouge-gunmans-social-media-motive/story?id=40657759|title=Investigators Scour Baton Rouge Gunman's Social Media as Motive Remains Unknown|work=ABC News|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 18, 2016|first=Brian|last=McBride}} He was also believed to have been in Baton Rouge for "several days" prior to the shooting. Long committed the shooting on his 29th birthday.

Long's body was released to his family on July 26, and a funeral was planned in Arkansas for a later date.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_4835f5f0-5329-11e6-8c23-e309e7d91a40.html?sr_source=lift_amplify|title=Baton Rouge shooter's body released to family; funeral planned in Arkansas|publisher=The Advocate|agency=Associated Press|date=July 26, 2016|access-date=August 17, 2016}}

Long grew up in Kansas City and graduated from high school in 2005.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-baton-rouge-gavin-long-20160718-snap-story.html|title=A study in anger: How Gavin Long went from decorated Iraq veteran to cop killer|work=The Los Angeles Times|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=July 19, 2016|first1=Louis|last1=Sahagun|first2=Jaweed|last2=Kaleem}} His parents divorced when he was eleven, and his father was neglectful of Long, according to court records. He failed to appear on scheduled visits with his son while the divorce was pending, and did not deliver birthday or Christmas presents to him. Court records described one instance where Long was picked up by his father, but dropped off at a day care facility at a casino shortly after.{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article90433917.html|title=Gavin Long's path to Baton Rouge marked by big plans, 'bizarre' claims|work=The Kansas City Star|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 24, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article91002377.html|title=Gavin Long's last 10 days, from book peddler to Baton Rouge cop killer|work=The Kansas City Star|date=July 21, 2016|access-date=July 24, 2016|first1=Laura|last1=Bauer|first2=Mará Rose|last2=Williams|first3=Ian|last3=Cummings}}

Long served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a data network specialist from August 22, 2005, to August 1, 2010. He was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/07/17/baton-rouge-police-shooting-suspect/87227644/|title=Baton Rouge shooter identified as Gavin Long, 29|work=USA Today|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|first1=Doug|last1=Stanglin|first2=Kevin|last2=Johnson}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/07/gavin_long_what_we_know_about.html|title=Gavin Long: What we know about Baton Rouge police shooting suspect|work=The Times-Picayune|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016}}{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/4411027/baton-rouge-shooter-gavin-long/ |title=Stepbrother of Baton Rouge Cop Shooter Gavin Long: 'I Didn't Think It Would Reach This Point' |magazine=Time|date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=July 18, 2016 |first=Melissa |last=Chan}} During his military service, he was deployed to Iraq from June 2008 to January 2009. He was also assigned to units in San Diego, California, and Okinawa, Japan. Long was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, along with an Iraq Campaign Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a Navy Unit Commendation, and others.

Following his military service, Long told relatives and friends that he suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He reportedly had prescriptions for Ativan and Valium, both anti-anxiety drugs; Lunesta, a sleep aid; and citalopram, an antidepressant.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/20/health/gavin-long-ptsd-baton-rouge/|title=Gavin Long said he suffered from PTSD, source tells CNN|work=CNN|date=July 20, 2016|access-date=July 20, 2016|first1=Joshua|last1=Berlinger|first2=Jason|last2=Hanna}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_4c364eb6-6e3b-11e6-a5ec-276c72f8bba0.html?sr_source=lift_amplify|title=VA records: Baton Rouge gunman Gavin Long had mood disorder, not PTSD, wasn't seen as threat|publisher=The Advocate|agency=Associated Press|date=August 29, 2016|access-date=September 9, 2016|first=Roxana|last=Hegeman}} Health records from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reportedly indicated contacts with Long from 2008 to August 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_4e9e8e1c-4e6e-11e6-aa73-2f09c1f4a90f.html|title=Report: Baton Rouge shooter Gavin Long claimed he suffered from PTSD|work=The Advocate|date=July 20, 2016|access-date=July 20, 2016}} The VA records said that Long told doctors that he contracted PTSD after a friend showed him photos of maimed and decapitated bodies while they were in Iraq. In November 2011, doctors contradicted Long's suspicions of PTSD and instead diagnosed him as having "adjustment disorder with depressed mood." They eventually concluded that he was mentally stable, with no evidence that he was a threat to himself or others. According to Long's mother, the VA then sent him a letter denying him further treatment on the grounds that his disorder was not related to his military service.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gavin-long-baton-rouge-police-shootings-mom-louisiana-gunman-would-lose-it/|title=Mom: Louisiana gunman would "lose it" over police shootings|work=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|date=July 22, 2016|access-date=July 22, 2016}} Long's mental health and related combat experience may have been a factor leading to the shooting.{{cite news | url=http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/07/21/army-psychiatrist-mental-health | title=Former Army Psychiatrist On Veterans, Mental Health: 'Everybody Who Goes To War Is Changed' | work=Here and Now | date=July 21, 2016 | agency=NPR | access-date=July 21, 2016 | author=Chakrabarti, Meghna | location=Boston, MA}}

Long graduated from Central Texas College, attending the college's San Diego site at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and via an online education program from fall 2007 to summer 2011; he received an associate of arts degree in general studies.{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Zapotosky|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/07/17/what-we-know-about-the-suspected-shooter-in-baton-route/|title=What we know about the shooter in Baton Rouge|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=September 10, 2016}} Long studied at Clark Atlanta University during the 2012–13 academic year.{{cite web|first1=Janel|last1=Davis|first2=Arielle|last2=Kass|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/news/baton-rouge-shooter-gavin-long-attended-clark-atla/nrzhd/|title=Baton Rouge shooter Gavin Long attended Clark Atlanta University|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=September 10, 2016}} Long also spent one semester at the University of Alabama, in spring 2012, with his name making it to the Dean's List as a general business major.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/baton-rouge-police-ambush/gavin-or-cosmo-baton-rouge-shooter-left-long-twisted-digital-n611291|title=Gavin or 'Cosmo'? Baton Rouge Shooter Left Long, Twisted Digital Footprint|work=NBC News|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|first1=Chris|last1=Francescani|first2=Jonathan|last2=Dienst|first3=Karla|last3=Liriano|first4=Nikki|last4=Dementri}} According to local court records, Long had no criminal record and was married for two years before the couple divorced.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/baton-rouge-police-shooting-former-marine-gavin-long-sovereign-citizen-domestic-threat/|title=Personal videos offer clues about Baton Rouge shooter's motives|work=CBS News|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 18, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_24f8502e-5680-11e6-8608-83a6d9d895cd.html|title=In Baton Rouge shooter Gavin Long, mass shooting scholars see familiar template|work=The Advocate|date=July 30, 2016|access-date=July 30, 2016|first=John|last=Simerman}}

Long was identified as a "black separatist" by a law enforcement official.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-baton-rouge-police-shooting-20160717-snap-story.html|title=Marine Corps veteran identified as suspect in fatal shooting of three police officers in Baton Rouge|work=The Los Angeles Times|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|first1=Molly|last1=Hennessy-Fiske|first2=Jenny|last2=Jarvie|first3=Del Quentin|last3=Wilber}} Dr. Michael Stone, a psychiatry professor, said that Long displayed hallmarks of a "disgruntled, paranoid loner" (a common type of mass killer), with a narcissistic and grandiose personality.

Social media posts indicated that he was an active member of the anti-government New Freedom Group.{{cite news|first1=Jennifer|last1=Levitz|first2=Alejandro|last2=Lazo|first3=Arian|last3=Campo-Flores|title=Three Police Officers Killed in Baton Rouge Shooting; Suspect Is Dead|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/more-than-one-police-officer-shot-in-baton-rouge-1468768712|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|quote=...was from Missouri and was affiliated with an antigovernment group called the New Freedom Group, the person added.}} According to CNN, a card was found on Long's body, suggesting that he was a member of the Washitaw Nation, a group of African Americans associated with the sovereign citizen movement that originated in Richwood.{{cite news|url=http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2016/07/17/baton-rouge-shooter-may-have-embraced-bizarre-outlook/87234938/|title=Baton Rouge shooter may have embraced bizarre outlook|work=The Advertiser|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|first=Ken|last=Stickney|quote=Shimon Prokupecz, a reporter for CNN, said a card was found on Gavin Long suggesting he was a member of the Washita[w] Nation, a peculiar sovereign citizen movement group...}} In addition to changing his legal name, he claimed his nationality was "United Washitaw de Dugdahmoundyah Mu'ur",{{cite news|url=http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/07/gavin_long_belonged_to_washita.html|title=Gavin Long belonged to Washitaw Nation. Who are they?|work=The Times-Picayune|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 18, 2016}}{{efn|Washitaw de Dugdahmoundyah is another name for the Washitaw Nation. Mu'ur is claimed by Washitaw Nation members to be the accurate spelling of Moors, a civilization that developed after the Arab conquest of North Africa.}} and expressed his support for the Moorish Science Temple of America, another African American organization associated with the sovereign citizen movement.{{cite news|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/baton-rouge-shooter-linked-black-sovereign-movement-201012151--abc-news-topstories.html|title=Baton Rouge Shooter Linked to Black Sovereign Movement|work=Yahoo! News|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 18, 2016|archive-date=July 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719212637/https://www.yahoo.com/news/baton-rouge-shooter-linked-black-sovereign-movement-201012151--abc-news-topstories.html|url-status=dead}} However, Long disavowed all prior associations in a recent video, saying, "Don't affiliate me with nothing. ... I'm affiliated with the spirit of justice."

In April 2015, while in West Africa, Long also became a member of a group dedicated to helping "Targeted Individuals" suffering from "remote brain experimentation, remote neural monitoring of an entire humans body." He asked to be put on the group's "buddy list", but he unexpectedly deactivated his account a month later. His mother said he once believed the Central Intelligence Agency was following him.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_63c4dbf2-4f90-11e6-b2de-cb9ee6d05193.html|title=Baton Rouge officer shooter Gavin Long's mother: He would 'pretty much lose it' upon hearing police shoot black man|publisher=The Advocate|agency=Associated Press|date=July 21, 2016|access-date=July 21, 2016}} He appeared as a guest on an online show discussing "Targeted Individuals", but downplayed his belief that he was being tracked, saying, "That's just a small aspect of me. It's not a complete picture of who I am." However, the show's host, who had frequent phone and email correspondence with Long, claimed that Long was adamant about being tracked during their communications.

In a "rambling" series of YouTube clips, Long claimed to be a former Nation of Islam member and referred to Alton Sterling, a black man killed by Baton Rouge police officers on July 5, in online videos. Long operated his YouTube channel under his new legal name, Cosmo Setepenra, making references to oppression against blacks and police protests. At one point less than two weeks before committing the shooting, Long called the shootings of five Dallas police officers an act of "justice". In one video, he said, "One hundred percent of revolutions... have been successful through fighting back through bloodshed." In another, he said the act of peaceful protesting was a futile method based on emotion and was easily forgettable. Long also maintained a personal website in which he described himself as a "freedom strategist, mental game coach, nutritionist, author and spiritual advisor." The website contained dozens of additional videos and podcasts.

Long wrote and self-published (also under the name "Cosmo Setepenra") three books about "how to be a strong man" and self-empowerment for black males,{{cite news |url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article91371852.html |title=Gavin Long's stepfather: 'What in the hell happened?' |work=The Kansas City Star |date=July 22, 2016 |access-date=July 22, 2016 |first1=Laura |last1=Bauer |first2=Mará Rose |last2=Williams}} which all appeared on Amazon.com in October and November 2015. The books were described by book critic Michael Schaub as "bizarre" works featuring a "combination of New Age-style jargon, pseudoscience, motivational bromides, health tips and racial theory." In the books, Long harshly criticized Western medicine, denied the germ theory of disease, and asserted that "[t]he abundance of Melanin in Black humans produces a superior organism both mentally and physically." The books were pulled from Amazon.com after the shooting.{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Schaub |url=https://www.latimes.com/books/la-et-jc-cosmo-setepenra-books-20160718-snap-story.html |title=The bizarre books by Baton Rouge police shooter Gavin Eugene Long, aka Cosmo Setepenra |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=July 18, 2016}} According to one of his books, he spent two years in several African countries studying their histories and cultures. In addition to the books, Long wrote two diaries—one in 2014 and the other in 2015—where he shared "rambling thoughts" about philosophy, religion, and politics.

Sahib Taylor, a nephew of Long, told The Los Angeles Times that his uncle would teach him about the importance of self-reliance, share his views on racism, and assert that "only advanced survival skills and decisive action" could overthrow the U.S. government. Taylor said that Long recently began sharing his beliefs that international corporations, federal banks, and political organizations were influencing ethnic groups for their own gain; and that the government was using police to control and kill people.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-baton-rouge-nephew-20160720-snap-story.html|title=He looked to his uncle for guidance. Then his uncle went on a deadly rampage|work=The Los Angeles Times|date=July 21, 2016|access-date=July 21, 2016|first=Louis|last=Sahagun}}

Within the preceding six months, Long visited the shooting range of a gun shop in Olathe, Kansas, and purchased a target that he used in shooting practice, according to an employee. The same employee also said Long did not purchase any firearms or exhibit any strange behavior at the store.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_8f85899e-4df1-11e6-b6ca-73975a8c13ab.html|title=Before bloodshed: Where Gavin Long stayed, what he preached, odd encounters all on video|work=The Advocate|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=July 20, 2016|first1=Jim|last1=Mustian|first2=Bryn|last2=Stole|first3=Maya|last3=Lau|first4=Matt|last4=Sledge}}

In a ten-minute video, Long claimed that he arrived at Baton Rouge not to protest Sterling's death, but to educate local blacks. He also expressed his distaste for white people and mentioned Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, in a rambling, one-sided conversation. He had previously made a similar recording using a body camera while visiting barbershops in Dallas sometime after the shooting there, to promote one of his books.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/baton-rouge-gunman-gavin-long-visited-dallas-barbershops/|title=Baton Rouge gunman visited Dallas barbershops days before La. attack|work=CBS News|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=July 21, 2016}} A friend said that Long visited him in DeSoto, Texas, two days after the Dallas shooting; during the visit, Long obsessively watched video footage of Sterling's death and praised the Dallas shooter Micah Xavier Johnson, saying "at least he did something".{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_a8a205da-4f48-11e6-b714-b72fa719e5df.html|title=Report: Friend says Baton Rouge gunman Gavin Long obsessed with Alton Sterling video footage|work=The Advocate|date=July 21, 2016|access-date=July 21, 2016}} The same friend said that Long also showed him a Washitaw Nation card and unsuccessfully urged him to join. Long's mother said that he would get upset at news stories of black men being shot by police, often renting cars and using them to drive to locations where such shootings occurred to pass out his books.

Less than an hour before the shooting, Long purportedly emailed a three-page, handwritten letter, self-described as a "manifesto", to a Columbus, Ohio, musician whose YouTube videos he commented on. In the letter, Long described his belief that the shooting was necessary to "create substantial change within America's police force." He also wrote his belief that there was a "concealed war" between "good cops" and "bad cops", and that he had to attack "bad cops" as vengeance for perceived destruction that they continued to inflict on blacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/baton-rouge-gunman-gavin-long-manifesto-describes-actions-necessary-evil/|title=Baton Rouge gunman's manifesto describes actions as "necessary evil"|work=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|date=July 20, 2016|access-date=July 20, 2016}}

File:July 23 funeral for one of the police officers shot and killed in Baton Rouge earlier in July.jpg for one of the fallen officers on July 23, 2016.]]

Although Long was said to have acted alone in the shooting, police arrested and questioned two other people in Addis as part of the investigation.{{cite news|url=http://www.wbrz.com/news/officers-shot-in-area-around-brpd-hq-sunday|title=Shooter wanted to kill police; Deputy on life support Monday|first=Brock|last=Sues|work=WBRZ|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://mic.com/articles/148961/gavin-eugene-long-named-as-suspect-in-killing-of-three-police-in-baton-rouge#.iswDZrqYI|title=Gavin Eugene Long Named As Suspect in Killing of Three Police in Baton Rouge|work=Mic|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|first=Tom|last=McKay}}{{cite news |url=http://www.newschannel5.com/news/national/gavin-long-what-we-know-about-the-suspected-baton-rouge-shooter |title=Gavin Long: What we know about the suspected Baton Rouge shooter |work=WTVF |location=Nashville, Tennessee |date=July 17, 2016 |access-date=July 17, 2016 |first=Alex |last=Hider}} They were later identified as Damarcus Alexander, a cousin of slain victim Corporal Montrell Jackson, and Alexander's friend Den'Trell White. According to them, police held them for seven hours, barring them from making any phone calls and refusing to give Alexander diabetic medication even after they were made aware of his condition. Both were eventually released without any charges being filed. At the time, Alexander was unaware of Jackson's death during the shooting. A spokesman for the Louisiana State Police responded to Alexander's claim of police mistreatment, saying, "No complaints or concerns have been brought to our attention."

Following this shooting and a previous one in Dallas, Texas, that killed five police officers and wounded nine others, local law enforcement agencies across the U.S. began readjusting response strategies, with more officers being paired up in patrol vehicles.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4411617/police-change-tactics-baton-rouge-shooting/|title=How America's Police Are Responding to Baton Rouge and Dallas|magazine=Time|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 19, 2016|first=Josh|last=Sanburn}}{{efn|While it was once standard practice to pair officers in patrol vehicles, budget cuts and other staffing demands prompted many police departments to implement more single-officer patrols.}}

On July 28, the victims of the shooting were honored at a memorial service in Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge. Hundreds of people were in attendance. Governor Edwards, Vice President Joe Biden, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and the wives of the victims made speeches during the service.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/biden-speak-vigil-slain-baton-rouge-officers-40952569|title=At Vigil, Biden Tries to Comfort Relatives of Slain Officers|work=ABC News|date=July 29, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2016|first=Michael|last=Kunzelman}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/07/officers_wives_baton_rouge.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730180223/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/07/officers_wives_baton_rouge.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 30, 2016|title=Wives of Baton Rouge officers killed in shooting speak at memorial|work=The Times-Picayune|date=July 28, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2016|first=Kevin|last=Litten}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/07/hundreds_gather_at_vigil_for_s.html|title=Hundreds gather at vigil for slain Baton Rouge officers|publisher=The Times-Picayune|agency=Associated Press|date=July 28, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2016}}

{{See also|Gun laws in Louisiana}}

The shooting renewed attention on Louisiana's open carry law, which some law enforcement officials have expressed discomfort about, believing that openly carrying citizens could complicate police matters. Some elected officials have made calls for a reevaluation of the state's open carry law. However, previous attempts at altering state gun laws have resulted in failure due to an amendment to the Louisiana State Constitution in 2012, which gave strong gun ownership protection laws and required limitations of any kind to be faced with strict scrutiny. State Senator Jean-Paul Morrell remarked that gun control bills filed every year in the state are "almost universally unsuccessful." James Gill, a columnist with The Advocate wrote an op-ed addressing the state gun laws and their legal complications on August 11.

President Barack Obama condemned the shooting in a statement and added, "These are attacks on public servants, on the rule of law, and on civilized society, and they have to stop."{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/07/police-shooting-baton-rouge/491654/|title=The Baton Rouge Police Shooting: What We Know|work=The Atlantic|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|first1=Matt|last1=Ford|first2=Krishnadev|last2=Calamur|first3=Yoni|last3=Appelbaum}} Later that day, he ordered for all flags in the U.S. to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims.{{cite news|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_3a2937ae-4d09-11e6-9f23-2f6eb3266773.html|title=President Barack Obama calls families of slain Baton Rouge officers, orders flags flown at half-staff|work=The Advocate|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 18, 2016|first=Elizabeth|last=Crisp}} On July 22, Obama met with law enforcement officials in Washington, D.C., and pledged solidarity in the wake of this shooting and another in Dallas.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_4f3d69d6-5046-11e6-b752-23de0b8a1917.html?sr_source=lift_amplify|title=President Obama meets with law enforcement, pledges solidarity in wake of Baton Rouge, Dallas shootings|work=The Advocate|date=July 22, 2016|access-date=August 17, 2016|first=Elizabeth|last=Crisp}}

Governor John Bel Edwards released a statement immediately after the shooting, saying, "This is an unspeakable and unjustified attack on all of us at a time when we need unity and healing."{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/17/us/baton-route-police-shooting/index.html|title=Baton Rouge shooting: 3 officers dead; shooter was Missouri man, sources say|first=Steve|last=Visser|work=CNN|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016}} On the day after, he called the shooting "pure evil" and "a diabolical attack on the very fabric of society."{{cite news|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/baton_rouge_officer_shooting/article_17c292c0-4d11-11e6-91bd-1fc7d0be95ba.html|title='Diabolical': Photos of shooter, more details released in emotional news conference|work=The Advocate|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=July 18, 2016|first=Elizabeth|last=Crisp}}

In an interview, Mayor Kip Holden recommended police agencies across the U.S. to put their officers on high alert and urged Americans to be "vocal about their support for law enforcement".

On June 30, 2017, district attorney Hillar C. Moore, III released a report, clearing the officers who killed Long of wrongdoing.{{Cite web|url=http://ebrda.org/ois/Final%20Report/Report%20OIS%20Gavin%20Long.pdf|title=In re. Gavin Long|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712183225/http://ebrda.org/ois/Final%20Report/Report%20OIS%20Gavin%20Long.pdf|archive-date=July 12, 2019}}

In July 2017, injured deputy Tullier filed a federal lawsuit against several leaders of Black Lives Matter for inciting violence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/black-lives-matter-sued-police-deadly-ambush-baton-rouge-deray-mckesson/|title=Baton Rouge police officer injured in deadly ambush sues Black Lives Matter|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=July 7, 2017 }} The lawsuit was later dismissed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/article_11cdb1da-a168-11e8-a51a-53e06e434a73.html|title=Wounded Baton Rouge deputy's lawsuit against Black Lives Matter rightly dismissed, appeals court says|first=JOE GYAN JR|last=jgyan@theadvocate.com|website=The Advocate|date=August 16, 2018 }}

Following nearly six years of treatment, shooting victim Cpl. Nicholas Tullier died on May 5, 2022, from complications due to injuries sustained during the shooting. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.{{Cite web |title=Nick Tullier, Baton Rouge deputy who survived 2016 ambush has died |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/nick-tullier-baton-rouge-deputy-who-survived-2016-ambush-has-died/ar-AAWX6pB |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=MSN |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Wilkins |first=James |title=Nick Tullier, 'true hero' wounded in 2016 ambush on Baton Rouge law officers, dies at 47 |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_5940a4fc-c66e-11e8-b2c7-673409a92b35.html |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=The Advocate |date=May 5, 2022 |language=en}}

{{Portal|United States|Law}}

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• Gun violence in the United States
• List of American police officers killed in the line of duty
• List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States

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