Iraq War memories haunted Raytown veteran shot by police

Iraq War memories haunted Raytown veteran shot by police
BY BRIAN BURNES
The Kansas City Star

An Iraq War veteran fatally shot Thursday by Raytown police had been haunted by memories of his service, family members said in a statement released this week.

Some media reports had 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 returned in 2008 from a six-month deployment struggling with bouts of depression, according to the statement.

“Friends have relayed moments when Rob would try to share his haunting memories from the war, but even the memories were overwhelming and difficult to express.”

Long, 26, was shot while threatening officers with a rifle.

He and a roommate had begun drinking at about 7 a.m. Thursday, first at a residence then moving to a bar. Bar employees later removed the two after they became confrontational, and police were called when they tried to re-enter the bar that afternoon.
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Iraq veteran with rifle killed by police in Kansas