The Latest: Garafola was a man who put others before self

The Latest: Garafola was a man who put others before self


3 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Latest on the funeral for Brad Garafola, one of three law enforcement officers shot and killed in Baton Rouge (all times local):

3:55 p.m.

The Baton Rouge sheriff's deputy killed six days earlier was remembered as a man who ran to help another officer when he could have stayed safe in the convenience store where he was working off-duty.

All 1,500 seats were filled in the Baptist church where a public funeral was held Saturday for Deputy Brad Garafola. The walls were lined with additional mourners, many of them police who had come from across the country.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said strength and courage seem to have defined Garafola's life and death.

Sheriff Sid Gautreaux (gOH-troh) called him courageous, compassionate, brave and benevolent.

His brother-in-law, Jaye Cooper, said people called Garafola the neighborhood husband because he cut grass, caught snakes and did other chores around the neighborhood.

He said Garafola died "doing what Brad had always done — trying to help someone else."

___

1:55 p.m.

Hundreds of people lined up to pay their respects to the family of a Baton Rouge sheriff's deputy killed by a gunman six days earlier.

Deputy Brad Garafola (gehr- uh-FOH-luh) and two city police officers were killed outside a convenience store less than a mile from police headquarters.

The line of mourners snaked through hallways in the 1,500-seat sanctuary at Istrouma Baptist Church, out the back door and into the parking lot. It included scores of officers from around Louisiana and from coast to coast.

Two police officers and two sheriff's deputies came from the Seattle, Washington area. Bellevue police Officer Paul Dill says their chief feels it important to honor brother and sister officers. He says the department sends an honor guard contingent to every out-of-state death in the line of duty.

___

12 p.m.

People began arriving hours ahead of a funeral for a sheriff's deputy slain on Sunday, even as a funeral Mass was being held at a Catholic church.

The family's obituary for East Baton Rouge Parish Deputy Brad Garafola (Gehr-uh-FOH-luh) said a funeral Mass for family, friends and congregation members was held at 10 a.m. at St. Jean (ZHAHN) Vianney (VEE-uh-new) Catholic Church. Garafola's visitation was beginning at noon at a Baptist church that seats 1,500, with the funeral starting at 2 p.m.

Hundreds turned out Friday for services for Baton Rouge Police Officer Matthew Gerald. Services for a third officer slain, 32-year-old Montrell Jackson, are slated for Monday.

Early arrivals for Garafola's service included a deputy who worked with Garafola and was dressed in Scottish regalia as drum major for a pipe band.

Deputy Greg McLean described Garafola as a generous family man. He says that when another deputy in the department was losing hair to chemotherapy, Garafola shaved his own head in support.

___

1:28 a.m.

Friends and family are gathering to remember Brad Garafola, one of three officers shot and killed last Sunday by a gunman.

Funeral services are being held Saturday for Garafola in Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge police Officer Matthew Gerald was laid to rest Friday. The third officer killed, Montrell Jackson, will be buried Monday.

Three other officers were also wounded in the shooting.

The gunman, Gavin Long, was shot and killed by police.

___

This story has been corrected to fix McLean's role in the pipe band.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Photos

Most recent U.S. stories

Related topics

U.S.
The Associated Press

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast