Third Baton Rouge Victim Identified as Father of 4 Brad Garafola

Brad Garafola was 45

Photo: East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office via AP

The third victim of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, shooting has been identified as East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy Brad Garafola, multiple outlets report.

According to The Advocate, CNN and WITN, Garafola, 45, was one of three officers who were shot and killed by a gunman on Sunday.

“Everybody on this street depended on him,” Garafola’s wife Tonja Garafola told The Advocate.”He loved us so much. He was always bragging about his family.”

According to The Advocate, Garafola leaves behind four children – a 21-year-old son who lives in Texas, a 15-year-old daughter, 12-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.

“He was a great guy. Not just a great law enforcement, he was a great husband and a great father,” Tonja said. “He didn’t deserve this. He always helped everybody.”

The other victims have been identified as Baton Rouge Police Department officers Matthew Gerald, 41, and Montrell L. Jackson, 32.

According to the New York Times Jackson commented on the recent killing of Alton B. Sterling in Baton Rouge, which led to nationwide protests.

“I’m tired physically and emotionally,” Jackson, 32, reportedly wrote on July 8. “I swear to God I love this city, but I wonder if this city loves me. In uniform, I get nasty hateful looks, and out of uniform some consider me a threat. I’ve experienced so much in my short life and these last 3 days have tested me to the core.”

“This city MUST and WILL get better,” he continued, according to screenshots taken from his page and the Times. “I’m working in these streets so any protesters, officers, friends, family or whoever, if you see me and need a hug or want to say a prayer. I got you.”

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At 9 a.m. police received a call of a “suspicious person” walking down Airline Highway with a gun. The suspect, who was later identified as 29-year-old Gavin Long of Kansas City, Missouri, opened fire when police arrived on the scene. He later died in a shootout with police.

At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Gov. John Bel Edwards said: “The violence and the hatred just has to stop.”

“These men, risking their lives to protect and serve, were taken out the way they were,” Edwards said. “They are the real life, everyday heroes.”

“There simply is no place for more violence,” he continued. “We are not going to tolerate more hate and violence tearing apart the families and communities of Louisiana.”