Baton Rouge Police Shooting: Gunman Is Ex-Marine, Kills Three
President Barack Obama Appeals for Calm
And now Baton Rouge.
Three police officers died in the aftermath of the shooting in Baton Rouge. The attack is another violation to the sensibilities of Americans as it closely follows the Dallas shooting that felled five police officers.
Baton Rouge has been on the edge following the shooting of Alton Sterling after a run in with the police officers of the city. A couple of days later, the FBI released a Situation Information Report alerting the law enforcers of the possible threats that will be unleashed in the city.
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Inside the Mind of the Gunman
The lone gunman, Gavin Eugene Long, was a sergeant of the US Marine Corps who was deployed in Iraq as a data network specialist. Before the shooting, the gunman left a series of social media comments about how he was disappointed with how law enforcement are treating black Americans.
In his YouTube channel, Long has long been saying about how violence is "an answer," and if a protester wants to win, he has to fight back because "100 percent success of a revolution is fighting back." The gunman has said that he is not a member of any organization and that he is "affiliated with the spirit of justice."
Trump and Clinton Weigh In on the Shooting
Donald Trump issued this statement on his Twitter account: "We are trying to fight ISIS, and now our own people are killing our police. Our country is divided and out of control. The world is watching."
On the other hand, Hillary Clinton said the attack was an assault to the entire nation. "There is no justification of violence, for hate, for attacks on men and women who put their lives on the line every day in service of our families and communities," she added.
President Barack Obama has condemned the attacks and issued stern warnings that justice will be served. The president also said that now is not the time for inflammatory rhetoric that will just add fuel to the fire.
Open Carry Suspension
Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association has requested Ohio Gov. John Kasich for a ban on Open Carry for the whole duration of the Republican National Convention. This call is in response to the shooting as they face an already charged and tense situation even prior to the shooting. Ohio is an Open Carry state, meaning openly carrying a firearm is allowed. The request has since been rejected by the governor.
