© Louisiana State Police / ReutersGavin Long, a black U.S. Marine Corps veteran who shot dead three policemen in Louisiana's capital who deliberately sought out officers to assassinate them, according to officials, is seen in this still image taken from video in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S., July 18, 2016.
A handwritten manifesto purportedly authored by Gavin Long states that the shooter viewed his murder of three police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a "necessary evil" to combat what he saw as injustice against black people.
The three-page manifesto obtained Wednesday by RT America lays out Gavin Long's reasoning behind his Sunday attack in Baton Rouge that left three officers dead and three others wounded before the attacker was shot dead.
Long, a 29-year-old former marine from Kansas City, Missouri, opened his letter with the salutation "Peace family," before apologizing in advance for the actions that he was about to commit, which he referred to as "horrendous acts of violence."
"You are thinking to yourself that this is completely out of character of the man you knew who was always positive, encouraging and wore a smile wherever he was seen," he wrote. "Yes this does seem to be out of character but I ask you that you finish reading before you make that decision."
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