Police officer Montrell Jackson sadly lost his life when a gunman targeted Baton Rouge, Louisiana law enforcement in a deadly shooting attack on Sunday morning and now the world is getting to know what a kind-hearted man he really was.
The 32-year-old officer was a 10-year member of the police force and had been struggling to deal with the recent turmoil between the African-American community and law enforcement nationwide in the wake of two highly publicized police killings of Black men in a single week.
In a message posted to his personal Facebook page on July 8, Montrell expressed his frustrations while also encouraging family and friends to refrain from allowing hatred to win. “I’m tired physically and emotionally. Disappointed in some family, friends and officers for some reckless comments but hey what’s in your heart is in your heart,” he wrote. Montrell then went on to question whether or not the city he loves loves him back as a Black police officer, before tasking those reading the message to consider his actions and his heart before condemning him.
He closed out the post by insisting that things would indeed get better in Baton Rouge before finally offering kind gestures and prayers to anyone in need who encountered him on the street. “Please don’t let hate infect your heart. This city MUST and WILL get better. I’m working in these streets so, any protestors, officers, friends, family or whoever, if you see me and need a hug or want to say a prayer, I got you.” Read Montrell’s heartwarming message in full below.
Although the family has declined to make a statement at this time according to The Daily Beast, nearly 100 community members gathered outside of Montrell’s home on Sunday evening for a candlelight vigil in his memory.
Montrell leaves behind a wife and a 4-month-old son named Mason. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends in the wake of this incredibly sad tragedy.
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