Ex-US Marine kills 3 policemen in racially tense Baton Rouge

One of the three police officers killed by a gunman in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was a military veteran who served three tours in Iraq.

Gavin Long’s last known address is a house on East 77th Terrace in south Kansas City, Missouri.

Although Baton Rouge is “hundreds of miles away from Boston, the pain and suffering caused by the loss of these officers in the line of duty is felt deeply by the men and women of the BPD”, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said Sunday.

The country has been on edge surrounding the shootings of black men by police and the recent attacks on law enforcement officers.

Following are updates on the officers who Louisiana State Police Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson said were “intentionally targeted” by the gunman.

Officials were still probing Long’s background and affiliations, and asked individuals who knew him or had contact with him to contact authorities. “That’s the only way a bully knows to quit”, he said.

The group says it’s a sovereign Native American nation within the boundaries of the U.S. The name-change document ends: “Standing firm on the Ancient Principles of, LOVE, TRUTH, PEACE, FREEDOM AND JUSTICE”.

Authorities said three guns were recovered from the scene, a IWI Tavor SAR 5.56 caliber rifle, a Springfield XD 9.9 mm caliber pistol and a Stag Arms M4 variant 5.56 caliber rifle.

Long, who was black, served in the Marines from 2005 to 2010, reaching the rank of sergeant.

During his service he received several awards, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation Medal. He was listed as a “data network specialist”.

He said the police arrived shortly after the gunfire began. In all, the violence has cost the lives of eight officers, including those in Baton Rouge, and two civilians and sparked a national debate over race and policing.

At the B Quick gas station where the shootings occurred, people left flowers and balloons in memory of the slain officers. According to radio traffic, Baton Rouge police answered a report of a man with an assault rifle and were met by gunfire.

Police said they had not ruled out but had found no evidence to confirm a link with the Sterling shooting.

Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholas Tullier, 41, is in “very critical condition” and is on a ventilator after suffering extensive damage from gunshot wounds to his head and stomach, Gautreaux said.

Officers Montrell Jackson, Matthew Gerald and Brad Garafola were killed Sunday after being ambushed and shot by a lone gunman in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In a reference to criticism from activists and law enforcement observers that police in the United States had become over-militarized, Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie said, “Our militarized tactics, as they’re being called, saved lives”. The killing was captured on cellphone video.

Thousands of people protested Sterling’s death, and Baton Rouge police arrested more than 200 demonstrators.

This ambush happens after the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police less than two weeks ago and after the murder of five police officers in Dallas.