A mere 12 days following the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a gunman opened fire at law enforcement. The suspect fatally shot three officers and injured three others on Sunday. Of the three officers injured, one remains in critical condition.
The circumstances surrounding the incident—as well as the motives of the alleged suspect, Gavin Eugene Long—remain unclear. A press conference updating the public on this ongoing investigation is scheduled for 1pm CT on Monday.
In the meantime, details have emerged concerning the officers who lost their lives in Louisiana’s capital city. Authorities have confirmed that two Baton Rouge police officers were among the victims, along with an East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy.
According to the Associated Press, sheriff’s deputies Nicholas Tullier and Bruce Simmons were among the wounded—Tullier is in critical condition.
The victims are as follows:
Montrell Jackson
https://twitter.com/Cameron_Gray/status/754804282617057280
Thirty-two-year-old Montrell Jackson had only recently celebrated a decade serving as a Baton Rouge police officer, having started with the law enforcement branch in June 2006. The young father leaves behind a wife and an infant son. In the days following the death of Alton Sterling, who was fatally shot by Baton Rouge law enforcement, Jackson penned a moving plea to his fellow citizens calling for unity while also expressing distress at public sentiment toward cops.
A GoFundMe has been set up to assist the Jackson family with funeral expenses. As of this writing, the crowdfunding campaign has raised over $38,000.
Matthew Gerald
Matthew Gerald was married with two children. He had been working on his own for 12 days via @WAFB #BatonRouge pic.twitter.com/iVDkMPyW7Q
— FOX 8 New Orleans (@FOX8NOLA) July 17, 2016
Matthew Gerald was relatively new to the Baton Rouge police force, having signed on to work in the Louisiana capital a year ago and only into his 12th day serving alone. The 41-year-old former Marine and Army man, who hails from nearby Denham Springs, Louisiana, leaves behind a wife and two children. Just two weeks ago, he celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary.
Brad Garafola
https://twitter.com/tlmlriley/status/754821507868569601
The slain East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy has been identified as Brad Garafola. Garafola leaves behind a wife and four children, ages 7 to 21. According to the Washington Post, the 45-year-old was on the force for 24 years.
