Calling the shooting of six Baton Rouge, Louisiana, law enforcement officers a “diabolical attack on the fabric of society,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said the gunman traveled specifically to the area “to do harm to our community” and to target law enforcement.
Authorities on Monday confirmed the identity of the shooter as 29-year-old Gavin Long, who went by the pseudonym Cosmo Setepenra. A trail of online messages, videos and social media accounts indicate that Long identified with the sovereign citizen movement, specifically with a group called the Washitaw Nation, which believes black people were the original inhabitants of the United States.
Three law enforcement officers were fatally shot and three others injured Sunday morning in Baton Rouge, sending police across the country into mourning for the second time in two weeks after a lone gunman took the lives of multiple officers.
Those killed were Baton Rouge Police Officers Montrell Jackson and Matthew Gerald, and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola.
“There is no doubt these officers were intentionally targeted and assassinated,” said Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson during a Monday press conference.
Officials were still probing Long’s background and affiliations, and asked individuals who knew him or had contact with him to contact authorities.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.