Thursday, Jan. 19 2012 7:43PM
Iraq veteran killed by police worked for Lee’s Summit
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ReprintA 26-year-old Raytown man who was fatally shot by Raytown police after threatening officers with a rifle Jan. 12 had been a Lee’s Summit city employee since serving in the Iraq War.
Robert G. Long was a maintenance worker in the city’s Public Works Operations Division, according to Melissa Fears, public communications coordinator for the city.
He transferred to that position in June 2009, after having begun his employment with Lee’s Summit as an airport attendant in June 2008, she said.
Earlier in 2008, Long had completed a six-month deployment in Iraq. He was struggling with bouts of depression upon his return, according to a statement issued by family members following his death.
Following the shooting, some media reports described Long as excited about his upcoming deployment to Afghanistan, according to the statement. But the statement added, “Those who knew Rob best recognized that, although excited about serving his country, Rob was troubled by lingering memories of his previous deployment to Iraq.”
Long and a roommate began drinking at about 7 a.m. Jan. 12, first at a residence, then at a bar. Bar employees removed the two after they became confrontational, and police were called when they tried to re-enter the bar that afternoon. An officer then drove Long to a residence in the 9000 block of East 79th Street in Raytown. Shortly after that, neighbors called police when they saw Long in the yard with a handgun. He reportedly fired a shot into the house, and then acquired a rifle. Long let a roommate leave the house but also said he would shoot anyone who approached the house, according to Raytown police.
At about 3 p.m., as police prepared to surround the house, Long walked outside and encountered several officers. He was shot once. Although the wound did not at first appear to be life-threatening, Long died two hours later at a hospital. The Raytown officer who shot Long was placed on leave, in keeping with department policy.
The family statement was signed by Long’s wife, Febe Long; his parents, Randy and Sherry Long; his father- and mother-in-law, Alan and Laura Woodworth; his sister, Shannon (Long) Walls; and his brother-in-law, Tyler Walls. “After coming back from Iraq he had felt a bit helpless, given the role he had in the Air Force,” said Brett Long, an uncle of Robert Long. “He had served in transportation, delivering supplies. But often, after his normal shift, he had spent time working at a hospital. That inspired him to want to switch to the Navy and become a corpsman.”
Long transferred from the Air Force to the Navy Reserves to become a corpsman, or medic, according go the statement, which said that Long had a 3-year-old daughter.
Family members intend to remain in contact with the Raytown police, Brett Long said.
“We are very interested in learning more about what happened,” he said. “It’s not a clear-cut situation. We are assuming good intent, but we are looking to see the results of the full investigation.” Some information gathered from The Kansas City Star
