Arizona leaders and law enforcement agencies shared expressions of sorrow and support for survivors after the murders of three officers in Baton Rouge, on Sunday morning. The murdered officers are Deputy Brad Garafola, of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Corporal Montrell Jackson, and Officer Matthew Gerald, of the Baton Rouge Police Department.
According to the Daily Caller, the shooter, Gavin Eugene Long was Nation Of Islam member, who railed against “crackers” on July 5 in a recent Youtube video. In the video, he made references to Alton Sterling, the black man killed by police in Baton Rouge.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey tweeted: “These deadly attacks on our brave cops are a national tragedy. America cannot tolerate such cowardly acts. We must unite and end these murders.”
Arizona State Representative Bob Thorpe stated, “A week after 5 officers were ambushed and murdered in Dallas by a sniper, it has happened again on Sunday in Baton Rouge where 3 officers were ambushed and murdered by another sniper… a truly horrific and unacceptable act. For years, Obama and his liberal Democrats have belittled our police, and now they publicly defend the racist, anti-police rhetoric of groups like Black Lives Matter. American race relations have greatly deteriorated under President Obama, probably being set back some 40-years, and police deaths reflect it, which are already 40 percent higher than in 2015.”
Horrified by #BatonRougePD shooting; sending love to families of 3 fallen officers, 3 wounded officers #ThinBlueLine
— Kyrsten Sinema (@RepSinema) July 17, 2016
A tragedy in Baton Rouge. Our heartss go out to @BRPD and the families of the fallen and injured police officers. pic.twitter.com/EhT15FvEEL
— Phoenix Police (@phoenixpolice) July 17, 2016