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| Baton Rouge Gunman ‘Was Targeting Officers,’ Police Say | Baton Rouge Gunman ‘Was Targeting Officers,’ Police Say |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BATON ROUGE, La. — The man who fatally shot three law enforcement officers here and wounded three others before being killed by the police on Sunday morning “was targeting officers,” state police officials said Monday. | BATON ROUGE, La. — The man who fatally shot three law enforcement officers here and wounded three others before being killed by the police on Sunday morning “was targeting officers,” state police officials said Monday. |
| “Our preliminary investigation shows that he definitely ambushed those officers,” Lt. J.B. Slaton, a public affairs commander for the Louisiana State Police, said Monday. “We are still trying to find out what his motive was, and that’s going to be part of our investigation. But we believe he was targeting those officers.” | “Our preliminary investigation shows that he definitely ambushed those officers,” Lt. J.B. Slaton, a public affairs commander for the Louisiana State Police, said Monday. “We are still trying to find out what his motive was, and that’s going to be part of our investigation. But we believe he was targeting those officers.” |
| The superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, Col. Michael D. Edmonson, said that investigators were interviewing people and sifting through visual evidence to track the activities of the gunman, Gavin Long, before he shot the officers, and to find out what brought Mr. Long to the city and why he stayed, adding that it was “critical and important” to get it right. | The superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, Col. Michael D. Edmonson, said that investigators were interviewing people and sifting through visual evidence to track the activities of the gunman, Gavin Long, before he shot the officers, and to find out what brought Mr. Long to the city and why he stayed, adding that it was “critical and important” to get it right. |
| “There was no doubt in my mind” that Mr. Long had intended to kill the officers, Colonel Edmonson said on CNN. Mr. Long had been positively identified with the use of fingerprint records, Lieutenant Slaton said. | “There was no doubt in my mind” that Mr. Long had intended to kill the officers, Colonel Edmonson said on CNN. Mr. Long had been positively identified with the use of fingerprint records, Lieutenant Slaton said. |
| As investigators worked, details about Mr. Long, 29, of Kansas City, Mo., began to emerge. Court records filed in Missouri showed that Mr. Long filed a name-change notice with the Jackson County recorder’s office, seeking to change his name to Cosmo Ausar Setepenra and saying he was a member of an indigenous group. A spokeswoman for the court said Mr. Long never filed a petition with the court, so the document was not legally binding. | |
| Using that name, Mr. Long billed himself online as a self-help author and life coach who could help men become more “alpha.” | Using that name, Mr. Long billed himself online as a self-help author and life coach who could help men become more “alpha.” |
| Like the gunman who killed five police officers more than a week ago in Dallas, Mr. Long had served abroad in the military. | Like the gunman who killed five police officers more than a week ago in Dallas, Mr. Long had served abroad in the military. |
| Records show that Mr. Long was in the Marines from 2005 to 2010, including a six-month deployment in Iraq. He was a sergeant and a data network specialist who earned several awards, including one for good conduct. In a podcast posted online, Cosmo pointed out that he had not seen combat. | Records show that Mr. Long was in the Marines from 2005 to 2010, including a six-month deployment in Iraq. He was a sergeant and a data network specialist who earned several awards, including one for good conduct. In a podcast posted online, Cosmo pointed out that he had not seen combat. |
| “I wasn’t like infantry and whatnot,” he said. “I’m not saying I was hopping out of the Humvees and kicking in doors and all that; that wasn’t me.” | “I wasn’t like infantry and whatnot,” he said. “I’m not saying I was hopping out of the Humvees and kicking in doors and all that; that wasn’t me.” |
| He was also assigned to Okinawa, Japan, and several locations in Southern California. | He was also assigned to Okinawa, Japan, and several locations in Southern California. |
| Internet domain search tools show that Mr. Long registered a website called convoswithcosmo.club in April. Another website, registered privately, convoswithcosmo.com, is filled with blog posts and podcasts that match Mr. Long’s biography, including his stint in the military and educational career. The site promotes three self-help books and offers life coaching sessions for $119 an hour. | Internet domain search tools show that Mr. Long registered a website called convoswithcosmo.club in April. Another website, registered privately, convoswithcosmo.com, is filled with blog posts and podcasts that match Mr. Long’s biography, including his stint in the military and educational career. The site promotes three self-help books and offers life coaching sessions for $119 an hour. |
| The podcasts, which began in April, are more focused toward helping men become more authoritative to impress women. But in videos from Dallas posted this month, the discussion turned to law enforcement and recent protests. A federal law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss an ongoing investigation said investigators believe “Cosmo” and Mr. Long are the same person, but have yet to make a final determination. | The podcasts, which began in April, are more focused toward helping men become more authoritative to impress women. But in videos from Dallas posted this month, the discussion turned to law enforcement and recent protests. A federal law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss an ongoing investigation said investigators believe “Cosmo” and Mr. Long are the same person, but have yet to make a final determination. |
| In one YouTube video, titled “Protesting, Oppression and How to Deal with Bullies,” the man discusses the killings of African-American men at the hands of police officers, including the July 5 death in Baton Rouge of Alton B. Sterling, and he advocates a bloody response instead of the protests that the deaths sparked. | In one YouTube video, titled “Protesting, Oppression and How to Deal with Bullies,” the man discusses the killings of African-American men at the hands of police officers, including the July 5 death in Baton Rouge of Alton B. Sterling, and he advocates a bloody response instead of the protests that the deaths sparked. |
| “One hundred percent of revolutions, of victims fighting their oppressors,” he said, “have been successful through fighting back, through bloodshed. Zero have been successful just over simply protesting. It doesn’t — it has never worked and it never will. You got to fight back. That’s the only way that a bully knows to quit.” | “One hundred percent of revolutions, of victims fighting their oppressors,” he said, “have been successful through fighting back, through bloodshed. Zero have been successful just over simply protesting. It doesn’t — it has never worked and it never will. You got to fight back. That’s the only way that a bully knows to quit.” |
| “You’ve got to stand on your rights, just like George Washington did, just like the other white rebels they celebrate and salute did,” he added. “That’s what Nat Turner did. That’s what Malcolm did. You got to stand, man. You got to sacrifice.” | “You’ve got to stand on your rights, just like George Washington did, just like the other white rebels they celebrate and salute did,” he added. “That’s what Nat Turner did. That’s what Malcolm did. You got to stand, man. You got to sacrifice.” |
| In one of a string of podcasts the man posted, titled “My Story,” he expounded on the recurrence of the number seven in his life. “My father was born in 1947. My mother was born in 1957. And I took physical form on 7/17/87.” | In one of a string of podcasts the man posted, titled “My Story,” he expounded on the recurrence of the number seven in his life. “My father was born in 1947. My mother was born in 1957. And I took physical form on 7/17/87.” |
| Sunday was the man’s 29th birthday. | Sunday was the man’s 29th birthday. |
| At college and in Kansas City, Mr. Long appears to have had little contact with the authorities. | At college and in Kansas City, Mr. Long appears to have had little contact with the authorities. |
| The university police at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa had no interactions with Mr. Long during his single semester as a student there in 2012, a spokesman, Chris Bryant, said. Mr. Long made the dean’s list as a general business major. He received an associate degree in general studies from Central Texas College, and also attended Clark Atlanta University during the 2012-2013 school year, the schools confirmed. | The university police at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa had no interactions with Mr. Long during his single semester as a student there in 2012, a spokesman, Chris Bryant, said. Mr. Long made the dean’s list as a general business major. He received an associate degree in general studies from Central Texas College, and also attended Clark Atlanta University during the 2012-2013 school year, the schools confirmed. |
| Mike Mansur, a spokesman for the Jackson County prosecutor’s office, which covers most of Kansas City, said that his office also had no record of contact with Mr. Long. | Mike Mansur, a spokesman for the Jackson County prosecutor’s office, which covers most of Kansas City, said that his office also had no record of contact with Mr. Long. |
| Mr. Long had an uncontested divorce from Aireyona Osha Hill in 2011, according to court records. They listed that they had no children and that Mr. Long earned $500 a month. The couple listed no assets. | Mr. Long had an uncontested divorce from Aireyona Osha Hill in 2011, according to court records. They listed that they had no children and that Mr. Long earned $500 a month. The couple listed no assets. |
| Court records also showed that a case was filed against Mr. Long this year for not paying his local earnings tax. Papers in that case were served on his address last month and his mother accepted them, according to court records. Six days later, the tax case was dismissed. | Court records also showed that a case was filed against Mr. Long this year for not paying his local earnings tax. Papers in that case were served on his address last month and his mother accepted them, according to court records. Six days later, the tax case was dismissed. |
| In Baton Rouge on Monday, the crime scene had been dismantled along Airline Highway and business was returning to normal. Bullet holes could be seen in a wall of the Hair Crown Beauty Supply Store, where the shooting took place. | In Baton Rouge on Monday, the crime scene had been dismantled along Airline Highway and business was returning to normal. Bullet holes could be seen in a wall of the Hair Crown Beauty Supply Store, where the shooting took place. |
| On Sunday night, about half a dozen police vehicles went racing up the quiet tree-lined street in Kansas City, that is listed as his address. The officers blocked off the street — ordering reporters out of the area and advising neighbors to stay indoors. An unidentified man emerged from the house voluntarily and was taken into custody. | On Sunday night, about half a dozen police vehicles went racing up the quiet tree-lined street in Kansas City, that is listed as his address. The officers blocked off the street — ordering reporters out of the area and advising neighbors to stay indoors. An unidentified man emerged from the house voluntarily and was taken into custody. |
| “I’m shocked,” said a neighbor, Simone Wilson, 29. | “I’m shocked,” said a neighbor, Simone Wilson, 29. |
| Ms. Wilson said that she did not know Mr. Long well and that her only encounter with him was an occasional wave to each other, but he appeared to be close to his family, which included children. | Ms. Wilson said that she did not know Mr. Long well and that her only encounter with him was an occasional wave to each other, but he appeared to be close to his family, which included children. |
| Colonel Edmonson had said on Sunday that a call came in to police dispatch early in the morning reporting “a guy carrying a weapon” near the Hammond Aire Plaza shopping center on Airline Highway — a commercial thoroughfare dotted with carwashes, car dealerships and chain stores that cuts through a leafy residential neighborhood. | Colonel Edmonson had said on Sunday that a call came in to police dispatch early in the morning reporting “a guy carrying a weapon” near the Hammond Aire Plaza shopping center on Airline Highway — a commercial thoroughfare dotted with carwashes, car dealerships and chain stores that cuts through a leafy residential neighborhood. |
| The shopping center is about a mile from the Baton Rouge Police Headquarters, where protesters had held numerous rallies since July 5, when the police fatally shot Mr. Sterling after a confrontation in front of a convenience store. | The shopping center is about a mile from the Baton Rouge Police Headquarters, where protesters had held numerous rallies since July 5, when the police fatally shot Mr. Sterling after a confrontation in front of a convenience store. |
| On Sunday, officers observed a man, wearing all black and holding a rifle, outside the beauty supply store, the colonel said. In the next four minutes, there were reports of shots fired and officers struck, said Colonel Edmonson, whose agency has taken the lead on the investigation, helped by local and federal investigators. | On Sunday, officers observed a man, wearing all black and holding a rifle, outside the beauty supply store, the colonel said. In the next four minutes, there were reports of shots fired and officers struck, said Colonel Edmonson, whose agency has taken the lead on the investigation, helped by local and federal investigators. |
| Federal investigators do not believe Mr. Long was directed by anyone and are still investigating whether he had any help and whether he was a member of any kind of group. | Federal investigators do not believe Mr. Long was directed by anyone and are still investigating whether he had any help and whether he was a member of any kind of group. |
| The law enforcement officers killed were identified late Sunday: | The law enforcement officers killed were identified late Sunday: |
| • Montrell L. Jackson, 32, a 10-year veteran of the Baton Rouge Police Department. He and his wife had a baby in March. | • Montrell L. Jackson, 32, a 10-year veteran of the Baton Rouge Police Department. He and his wife had a baby in March. |
| • Matthew Gerald, 41, who had served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for less than a year. | • Matthew Gerald, 41, who had served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for less than a year. |
| • Brad Garafola, 45, an East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy and a father of four. | • Brad Garafola, 45, an East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy and a father of four. |
| Of the officers who were wounded, one was “fighting for his life” in the hospital on Monday, Colonel Edmonson said. | Of the officers who were wounded, one was “fighting for his life” in the hospital on Monday, Colonel Edmonson said. |
| Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana said on CNN that the city was trying to recover. “We are not going to be defined by this horrible tragedy,” he said. | Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana said on CNN that the city was trying to recover. “We are not going to be defined by this horrible tragedy,” he said. |