Now that he is dead \u201d\u201d killed by police minutes after the rampage he carried out on his 29th birthday \u201d\u201d much of what is known about Long comes from his vast online trail, where he fashioned himself as a lifestyle guru and activist with fans who were aching to know his life story.<\/p>\n
As racial tensions escalated nationwide with the police shootings of black men this month in Louisiana and Minnesota, and the killings of five police officers in Dallas, Long’s messages grew more pointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not gonna harp on that, you know, with a brother killing the police,\u201d\u009d Long said in a video uploaded the day after the Dallas shootings. \u201cYou get what I\u2019m saying?\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s justice,\u201d\u009d he said. In the same video, he seemed to hint at his own plans: If \u201canything happens to me \u201d\u00a6 don’t affiliate me with anybody.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n