Mary Staes

BATON ROUGE – The head of the Louisiana State Police gave out detailed information Monday afternoon about how numerous officers in Baton Rouge reacted in the face of danger Sunday morning. 

 

During a press conference held a little more than 24 hours since three officers were killed, Col. Mike Edmonson provided maps, photos and stills from surveillance videos of the actions of suspected shooter Gavin Long, and the weapons he used.  

 

“In this ongoing investigation, the most compelling piece of evidence is the video,” said Edmonson.  

 

He also stated police believe Long’s actions were an intentional targeting of law enforcement.  

 

“There were citizens walking around all throughout the area, and he completely dismissed all of them,” Edmonson said. “His intentions were aimed at police officers." 

 

Authorities said Long was armed with two rifles and a handgun. 

 

“It appears he used social media extensively,” Edmonson explained. “Someone was still actively on a Facebook page they created to say he was still alive. This is what we’re dealing with.” 

 

Long , 29, used the pseudonym Cosmo Setepenra, and had a YouTube page with almost 20 videos about his views on life, including recent events involving the police and the public. 

 

Edmonson said the crime scene encompassed 300-400 yards, and he showed the area on a Google Map, pointing out the car wash, beauty store and B-Quick mart, where the shootings happened. 

 

According to investigators, Long walked up to an empty police car and raised his rifle to shoot into it. When he noticed the car was empty, he returned to his own vehicle, a rented Chevy Malibu. Investigators said he then drove onto Airline Highway, when he noticed the policeman was back in his vehicle. 

 

Edmonson said Long parked his car again, but the police officer left the area. Then Long walked around a building, back towards the B-Quick Mart. 

 

“At this point, that’s when calls started coming in that there was an individual, exact words were a ‘dude with a rifle going down Airline Highway.’" 

 

As police began arriving, Edmonson said Long went around the side of a beauty store where he shot three police officers at the side of the building. One of them died. Edmonson said a deputy was with the officers, and took cover behind a dumpster at the back of the building. 

 

“He’s got a clear view of this police officer that’s wounded,” said Edmonson. “He comes back around and starts to give aid. Now think about this, he’s heard the gunshots and knows the guy’s in that area. This sheriff’s deputy, he leaves his cover and goes back to help that police officer. That’s what we’re trained to do.” 

 

Edmonson said Long saw the first police officer was dead, and came to the back of the building. 

 

“As the deputy is coming in, the shooter comes around this corner,” Edmonson said. “At that point, he sees the deputy, he shoots the deputy. Shoots him right there.” 

 

Edmonson said at that point Long also killed the injured deputy. 

 

As Long made his way back to his car, Edmonson said there was a sheriff’s deputy who saw Long’s car and was inside his police cruiser running the plates. While he was sitting in his car, Long shot him in the head and the stomach. 

 

That deputy is Cpl. Nicholas Tullier, who was in the ICU in critical condition Monday afternoon. Authorities said Tullier is also on a breathing machine.  

 

Soon after, Long shot and wounded another police officer, before being shot and killed by a SWAT team member from over 100 yards away.  

 

“Think of the presence of mind in taking this shot right here,” Edmonson said of the SWAT shooter. 

 

Another officer, Bruce Simmons, was preparing for a second surgery Monday afternoon.

 

Officials said the bone running from Simmons' elbow to his shoulder was shattered and that he would need several reconstructive surgeries. He has a titanium rod in his arm. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.