Autopsy: Law Enforcement Officers Died Of Multiple Gun Shot Wounds

The autopsy findings of the three officers killed in the police ambush by Gavin Long have been released. East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says each officer’s death was ruled a homicide due to multiple gunshot wounds.

“We’ll retrieve any projectiles that may still be within the body so they can be analyzed and matched with different guns that might have been involved in the case and we’ll also document the sharp nature of those projectiles.”

Clark says once the findings are all put in a report, which takes anywhere from 60 to 90 days, it will be turned over to the law enforcement investigating unit. He says this an incredibly sad case for him to work.

“The three law enforcement officers, those guys are heroes. They really did put their lives on the line to save this community and thank goodness we have people like that to protect us.”

The officers have been identified as East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola and Baton Rouge Police Officers Montrell Jackson and Matthew Gerald. Clark says it’s especially difficult for his office to perform autopsies on dead police officers, because they work so closely with them on many cases.

“It’s very emotional because they’re our colleagues, they’re our friends, they’re our brothers and sisters.”