Three officers are dead and three others are wounded after a shooting in Baton Rouge. Police-community relations in the city have been tense since the killing earlier this month of 37-year-old Alton Sterling, a black man shot by white officers after a scuffle at a convenience store. The killing was captured on cellphone video. 

Here is what we know so far:

The shooting

It happened early Sunday morning, just before 9 a.m., less than 1 mile from police headquarters.  The attack began at a gas station on Airline Highway. Police observed a man dressed in all black holding an assault rifle at 8:40 a.m., according to authorities. Shooting began at 8:42 a.m., leaving three officers dead and three other officers injured. By the time emergency medical services arrived at 8:48 a.m., authorities had engaged and killed the suspect.

As of Sunday evening, it remained unclear whether police were explicitly targeted in an ambush. Residents in the neighborhood where the shootings unfolded expressed bewilderment and shock.

The victims

Three police officers were fatally shot and three others were wounded. A Louisiana state representative identified one of the three officers killed as Montrell Jackson. He had a 4-month-old child. The other slain officers include a 45-year-old East Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputy and a 41-year-old Baton Rouge city officer, according to authorities.

Injured officers included a 41-year-old sheriff’s deputy reportedly in critical condition. A 51-year-old deputy and a 41-year-old Baton Rouge police officer received care for non-life-threatening injuries.

The gunman

The dead suspect was identified as Gavin Long, who turned 29 on Sunday, according to multiple media organizations. He was killed at the scene, police said. Long lived in Kansas City, Missouri. He served with the Marines from 2005 to 2010, and he was deployed to Iraq in 2008.

Police used a specialized robot was used to check for explosives near the body.

During a Sunday afternoon press conference, the Louisiana State Police stressed there was not an active shooter situation in Baton Rouge. Police said Long is thought to have been the only gunman.

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