An unspeakable, heinous attack

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

At 3 p.m. this afternoon officials in Baton Rouge, as well as Louisiana’s Gov. John Bel Edwards held a press update about the shooting of three Baton Rouge police officers, and three East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies this morning. Two of the police officers and one of the Sheriff’s deputies have died. One of the injured remains in critical condition, and two do not have life-threatening injuries.

The shooter was killed at the scene, but no definite description of any details regarding him were made available.

Officials assured the public that “There is not an active shooter scenario,” but urged citizens, “If you don’t need to be out, please stay at home. He added, “We do not believe we have any other shooter held up in any other area.”

Very few details of the crime were made other than a timeline of the shooting event shortly before 9 a.m. CDT this morning.

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden said, “We ask you now for your prayers, and prayers for the families. They are our first responders, now we will be their first responders.”

Gov. John Bel Edwards called the shooting “An unspeakable, heinous attack. It’s unjustified, the hatred just needs to stop.” Earlier in the day, the governor said, he and Mayor Holden gathered with the family members at the hospital. “These men, risking their lives to protect and serve, are real life, everyday heroes. I want to ensure you that we are doing everything possible to make sure everyone is protected.”

Edwards added, “To heal is going to take constructive dialogue. We are not going to tolerate more hate and violence tearing apart the families of Louisiana.”

News media indicated that they had received the identity of the shooter from outside sources. He is allegedly Gavin Long, 29, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. No other information, other than conjecture by commentators, was given. NBC reporters said they believed that Long and two others, who are thought to be from Missouri, lured police to the scene with 911 calls, but there was no independent confirmation of that fact.

The AP reports that two “persons of interest” have been detained near Baton Rouge.

Following the Baton Rouge press briefing, President Barack Obama was to speak from the White House Briefing Room.

The President earlier issued a statement condemning the shooting. Here is the text of that statement:

“I condemn, in the strongest sense of the word, the attack on law enforcement in Baton Rouge. For the second time in two weeks, police officers who put their lives on the line for ours every day were doing their job when they were killed in a cowardly and reprehensible assault. These are attacks on public servants, on the rule of law, and on civilized society, and they have to stop.

“I’ve offered my full support, and the full support of the federal government, to Governor Edwards, Mayor Holden, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Baton Rouge Police Department. And make no mistake – justice will be done.

“We may not yet know the motives for this attack, but I want to be clear: there is no justification for violence against law enforcement. None. These attacks are the work of cowards who speak for no one. They right no wrongs. They advance no causes. The officers in Baton Rouge; the officers in Dallas – they were our fellow Americans, part of our community, part of our country, with people who loved and needed them, and who need us now – all of us – to be at our best.

“Today, on the Lord’s day, all of us stand united in prayer with the people of Baton Rouge, with the police officers who’ve been wounded, and with the grieving families of the fallen. May God bless them all.”

Watch www.Gayly.com for ongoing news of the killing of police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Gayly – July 17, 2016 @ 4 p.m.