Gavin Long, the man who killed three law enforcement officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, before a SWAT team officer shot him dead -- told friends and relatives that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, a source involved in the investigation told CNN's Chris Cuomo.
Long joined the Marine Corps in 2005, worked as a data network specialist and
served in Iraq before being discharged as a sergeant in 2010, according to the U.S. military.
Long had filled a prescription for Ativan, an anti-anxiety drug, as recently as June, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He also had prescriptions for Valium and the sleep aid Lunesta, the source said.It wasn't immediately clear whether anyone had diagnosed him with PTSD. CNN has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the military to obtain records about Long's service. Under Defense Department rules, health records that might include any information on Long's mental health are considered protected, even though he is dead. The records are part of the criminal investigation.
Valium, like Ativan, is a benzodiazepine -- a class of medication with sedative properties that are prescribed for anxiety, insomnia and other conditions.
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