Matthew Gerald was a police officer with the Baton Rouge Police Department. He was married father of two children. Gerald was from Denham Springs, Louisiana. Gerlad graduated from the Baton Rouge Police Department Academy in March and had only been with the force for 12 days before his death. ^[1]

Before becoming a police officer Gerald was a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps. He also served in the U.S. Army as a Black Hawk crew chief.

On July 17, 2016 three police officers Matthew Gerald, Brad Garafola, and Montrell Jackson, were shot and killed by Gavin Eugene Long in the 2016 shooting of Baton Rouge police officers. In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, relations between the police and residents have been tense since the death of Alton Sterling on July 5.

One suspect, Gavin Eugene Long is dead and it is possible that two others are at large. Three officers were wounded in the shooting, including one who is fighting for his life.