A gunman shot and killed two New York City police officers before taking his own life in a brazen ambush that played out on a quiet Brooklyn street corner Saturday afternoon, New York police said.
Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were shot at point-blank range while sitting beside one another in a police car in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, police said.
“It’s clear that this was an assassination,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference Saturday night. “These officers were shot execution-style, a particularly despicable act which goes to the heart of our society and our democracy.”
“It is an attack on all of us,” he added.
Ramos and Liu, who were shot in the head, were transported to Brooklyn’s Woodhull Medical Center, where they were later pronounced dead, according to New York Police Commissioner William J. Bratton, who also spoke at the news conference Saturday evening.
I doubt that there will be demonstrations over the executions of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. These police officers were out of their district, called in for special assignment, and were just grabbing a bite to eat. It is doubtful they even saw their assailant.
Tonight, family members are going to bed asking why? A police officer’s family always knows this is a dangerous job and that the possibility of violence and death is always right around the corner. Are they ever ready for something like this to happen? Probably not. These men were killed, apparently, simply because they were police officers. That sounds like profiling to me.
According to the Dailynews.com:
The shooter — identified as Ismaaiyl Brinsley— boasted about wanting to murder cops in the hours before he ambushed the officers outside the Tompkins Houses in Bedford-Stuyvesant around 2:45 p.m. — around the same time Baltimore officers sent a wanted flier to the NYPD.
“I’m Putting Wings On Pigs Today. They Take 1 Of Ours…Let’s Take 2 of Theirs,” Brinsley, 28, wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of a silver handgun.
He also included the sick hashtags: #ShootThePolice #RIPErivGarner #RIPMike Brown.
“This May Be My Final Post…I’m Putting Pigs In A Blanket.”
Brinsley apparently had also shot and seriously wounded his girlfriend in Baltimore County, according to MSNBC news coverage. She is expected to recover following surgery.
Nothing we can say or do makes these senseless deaths less of a loss to the friends and families of the victims. The assailant is dead. He killed himself. The two police officers are death not because of something they did but who they were.
All police departments need to go on high alert. There are surely other nuts out there, looking for an excuse to execute cops. It’s not an easy time to be a police officer. On the one hand, you don’t want to be accused of profiling or excessive force. On the other hand, it appears that our police officers are now targets. That’s not a great spot to be in. It would certainly make me think twice about wanting to become a police officer. It’s going to be difficult to attract the brightest and the best, especially in high crime areas.
New York City has lost two of its finest. The City will mourn the loss of its own officers. There can be no more executions of police officers. A posthumous “Thank you for your service” just seems so inadequate.
Addendum: From WaPo:
Through his National Action Network, the Rev. Al Sharpton released a statement several hours after the shooting condemning the use of violence as a means of affecting change.
“I have spoken to the Garner family and we are outraged by the early reports of the police killed in Brooklyn today,” Sharpton said in the statement. “Any use of the names of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, in connection with any violence or killing of police, is reprehensible and against the pursuit of justice in both cases.”
In a statement, the family of Michael Brown condemned the “senseless killing” of the officers.
“We reject any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement,” read the statement, issued by family attorney Benjamin Crump. “It cannot be tolerated. We must work together to bring peace to our communities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the officers’ families during this incredibly difficult time.”
Flip side?
Based upon the attitudes shown during the riots, I would say that this is an extension of Ferguson.
One Latino and one Asian cop dead. They were executed because they were cops. I can’t see any other reason. No altercation was involved. Just BANG you’re dead. Too bad he isn’t still around to torture.
What was it that de Blasio said that led the police unions to say he has “blood on his hands” in these murders? I keep hearing that story, but not the foundation bit as to what has the union so enraged. I hope I can safely assume that the Mayor did not advocate killing policemen.
Ferguson protesters emphasized nonviolent response to police actions and police responded violently.
So isn’t this what the police asked for? Sure I think it wrong but the police didn’t ask my opinion or permission to kill people so I assume they know what they are doing by starting a war on black men. This is the whole tree of liberty ..blood of patriots bit for gun owners; defending against tyranny by government police, right? Or is that 2A rhetoric not applicable for blacks either?
Some individuals in some police unions are letting their inner racism run amok, and should shut up.
Less dramatic but similar in nature, the police unions in St. Louis went ballistic over 5 Rams players doing a “hands up” gesture before a game. Some of these guys have a real hard time with the “freedom of speech” concept if it involved a black person criticizing a white one.
I was going into the Capitol last weekend during the protests in DC. A police officer had his hand on his gun so I put my hands up and asked a nearby guide what I should do so as not to provoke him to shoot. The officer intervened and asked me if I thought he was a threat? I said yes and he got angry and started verbally abusing me. When I got inside I turned around to take a picture through the glass door and he came at me demanding that I not take pictures. I got him to back off a little by telling him he was engaged in Obstruction of justice by preventing me from documenting a complaint. I put the camera away and walked away. It wasn’t worth risking my life to prove that he was chilling speech.
@Rick Bentley
Or the cops could see it as people supporting criminals over police. Unpleasant truth: Michael Brown and Eric Garner were both criminals. (I’ve said multiple times that the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases are very different and that Eric Garner shouldn’t have died but they were both criminals.)
When you have people marching in the streets chanting “What do we want? Dead cops!” it’s not shocking that cops get a little concerned. No inner racism needed to feel threatened when people are calling for you to be killed.
both dead cops are minorities also. I think people are just confused and working themselves into frenzies. Cops are human beings. Their lives are on the line daily. They are subject to the same judgement calls the rest of us are.
The chant about dead cops was inexcusable. Regardless of how I felt about the Ferguson case or the Brooklyn case, I wouldn’t associate myself with trash that would chant for dead cops. Yes, I said TRASH.
@Ed Myers
“isn’t this what the police asked for?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yGVY-xVaSQ
@Ed Myers
“Ferguson protesters emphasized nonviolent response to police actions and police responded violently.”
Which protestors were those?
The ones yelling “Burn this bitch down!” or the ones looting and burning?
What is your response to “What do we want? Dead Cops!” chant of the protestors in NYC?
“and asked a nearby guide what I should do so as not to provoke him to shoot.”
You really are a special little snowflake, aren’t you? Apparently, you were merely mocking him and did not feel threatened at all….because YOU DIDN’T LEAVE THE AREA.
“I said yes and he got angry and started verbally abusing me. When I got inside I turned around to take a picture through the glass door and he came at me demanding that I not take pictures.”
You even state that you stayed around to anger him. One doesn’t talk to threats.
The only thing that is correct is that you have a right to photograph him.
Got pics? By the way…. unless you have video…a snap shot is useless in documenting a complaint about verbal abuse.
Its so weird how you get cops to pull guns on you at traffic stops and now this……
You must be doing something wrong.
I would think this would be a dangerous time to be goading cops. They are on high alert and are understandably not putting up with any foolishness.
Afraid I have to agree with Cargo on this one. I know he lives to hear those words.
@Ed Myers
Ed,
Your attempt to link this to “Liberty” and the 2nd Amendment is both transparent in its biases, and ridiculous in its assertion.
The deliberate targeting for assassination of law enforcement officers as retaliation for perceived racial injustice is terrorism. The 2nd Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms for self-defense, not for assassination.
Now I am having to agree with Steve. No, I haven’t crossed over. I just agree with Cargo and Steve about assassinating police officers.
At Ed
“… so I assume they know what they are doing by starting a war on black men.”
You really are a big part of the problem. There is no use in giving you facts, videos or figures.
Ed, I grieve for those who live in high crime neighborhoods that have to live with people like you, because the police are going to slow down, and if they come at all they will come with even more force – and cameras, avoid entire neighborhoods and give you exactly what you have asked for. Every smart shop owner knows it too and they too are preparing to leave.
If you first provoke a confrontation (which you did), your right to later claim “verbal abuse” or “victim-status” is limited. It’s, like, the law. you should check it out.
Poor Ed seems like the same type of guy you see prodding and poking someone only to be shocked, hurt and crying he is a victim when he gets a response. Seen this story before… unfortunately his ilk gets most of the attention.
“You must be doing something wrong.” What do I have to do to when walking down the sidewalk minding my own business and not have the police or some 2A zealot kill me because he thought I was a threat?
I’m the one saying no one should have the right to take another’s life. Some here vehemently disagree and if you do you own the responsibility of carefully drawing the rules of engagement describing when killing someone is Ok and when it is a crime. Otherwise you have an unjust system where police and white gun owners have a very different set of rules and obligations regarding use of deadly force from Blacks and Hispanics.
And those who complaint about living under the tyranny of a police state are part of the problem, eh Blue?
Raising your hands and saying “don’t shoot” is now considered provocation? Really? Recording a situation with the police is provocation? When did those rights get suspended?
I believe it is provocation. Saying that to a LEO suggests that they are there to gun down innocent people. Most cops are decent people who want to make the world safer for the rest of us. Yes, there are a few rotten apples. They should be weeded out like in any other profession. Trying to hang the “pig wreath of shame” on all police officers actually protects bad ones. There are probably no more bad cops than there are bad doctors, lawyers, teachers, air traffic controllers, etc.
@Cargo “Which protestors were those?” The vast majority of protesters who didn’t loot or burn. The ones that didn’t make it on the news because they were not violent.
“YOU DIDN’T LEAVE THE AREA.” Yes I did. I was in a group and I carefully walked so I remained 25 feet away and he kept following me with verbal abuse intended to make me angry. I did all the things you said Michael Brown should have done and none of the things you said he shouldn’t have done (including not being a criminal) and you still place all the blame for the unpleasant use of force on me.
@Ed Myers
Context Ed. Context. You were doing it to illicit a response, ie. a provocation. Unless you actually thought that a cop was just going to shoot you for “walking down the street, minding your own business”, you have no reasonable basis for your actions.
I have come to the conclusion that you are a blog-troll. Your comments are way too ludicrous to be taken seriously.
@Ed Myers
“you still place all the blame for the unpleasant use of force on me.”
“Unpleasant use of force”
He used force now, did he? You should write a letter of complaint, and make sure to throw in some harsh language. Stern language. Contact an attorney. Let him know that you just “happened” to be at a rally protesting the deaths of two criminals, one of which who attacked a police officer, “walking down the street”, “minding my own business”, hands raised while saying “what do I have to do to prevent being shot” the implication being “by a white police officer”, and the police officer who heard the comments, obviously overreacted to a perceived provocation, and unpleasantly stated so. Be sure to inform them that you are now suffering from PSTD, ED, and you must now wear Depends at night.
I hope you got his name and badge number. I hope you continued taking pictures if the officer did those things. Also, who was around him? what other officers were nearby?
Oh boy… your first mistake is basing your argument on a lie. That never happened Ed, step one, base your arguments in fact. Step two… eh, forget it, step one if hard enough for you.
“Unpleasant use of force”
Placing a hand on a holstered gun is a statement that the gun owner thinks he is in danger and wants to communicate that he is ready to act with deadly force.
If this happened on Saturday after the deadly shootings in New York, I am not sure I blame any police officer.
@Ed Myers
I’m almost afraid to ask but you do know that almost TWICE as many whites dies than blacks in confrontations with Police, right?
@Ed Myers
In 2012, according to the CDC, 140 blacks were killed by police. That same year 386 whites were killed by police.
#factsmatter
I’m not following your logic. If 15% of the population are black one would expect 6 or 7 times as many non-black deaths at the hands of police than blacks if race does not play a role.
And if 15% of the blacks in the United States were evenly distributed throughout the nation, perhaps you would have a point. But that isn’t the case, is it?
Sorry Ed. Legally speaking, nope. The term you seek is “brandishing”. Brandishing requires the removal of the gun from a holster, held in the hand, prepared for use.
Now, you can return to chasing about the squirrels in your head , with your mental tennis racquet.
Your not following my logic? Coming from someone who still regurgitates the myth of “hands up, don’t shoot”? Oy Vey… I give up.
When you remove non-conflict related death of officers in the line of duty you get maybe 50 deaths a year of officers compared to 500 civilians killed by police. Police are winning the war if you look at body count.
I’d like both counts to be zero and the easiest number to reduce is the number of civilian deaths at the hands of police.
@Ed Myers
“Police are winning the war if you look at body count.”
It’s a war now? What kind of war? A race war?
“I’d like both counts to be zero and the easiest number to reduce is the number of civilian deaths at the hands of police.”
Yes, Utopia, where there is no crime, no conflict, no jealousy covetousness, greed, or anger, seems like the perfect place. Please be sure and send us all a post-card from there, or better yet, a picture of you cavorting with gnomes would be great!
Sort of sounds like The Giver.
I certainly hope there is a war–a war on crime.
“Brandishing requires the removal of the gun from a holster, held in the hand, prepared for use.”
The officer knew the rules for brandishing and was careful to communicate his ability to use his gun without stepping over the line into brandishing. That is why I didn’t seek or use the term: brandishing.
@Jackson, you are not only math challenged, but you don’t read very well.
I did not lie or “regurgitates the myth of “hands up, don’t shoot”. I actually did put my hands up and did say “don’t shoot” to a capital hill police officer. I was there and you were not so you might want to dial it back a bit.
@Ed Myers
“What do I have to do to when walking down the sidewalk minding my own business and not have the police or some 2A zealot kill me because he thought I was a threat?”
Easy…. do not become a threat. Is that so hard? Seems to work for MILLIONS of other people.
“and white gun owners have a very different set of rules and obligations regarding use of deadly force from Blacks and Hispanics.”
And there’s the race card. Nope. We all have the same exact rules.
“Raising your hands and saying “don’t shoot” is now considered provocation? Really? Recording a situation with the police is provocation? When did those rights get suspended?”
A) I distinctly stated that you have right to photograph.
B) That “hands up, don’t shoot” has become an insult to cops since it is based upon a lies.
“you still place all the blame for the unpleasant use of force on me.”
Nope. There was no “unpleasant use of force.” There was a cop, if this is true, being unprofessional in the face of insulting behavior.
“If 15% of the population are black one would expect 6 or 7 times as many non-black deaths at the hands of police than blacks if race does not play a role.”
The problem with your math is that black people commit 49% of the murders and 55% of the robberies. Thus…the cops are involved with CRIMINAL black people at the same rate as they are white people. The DENSITY of the interactions is greater due to a smaller population base.
“The officer knew the rules for brandishing and was careful to communicate his ability to use his gun without stepping over the line into brandishing.”
So, in other words, he DIDN’T actually threaten you. You felt threatened. Well, you appear to feel threatened by the existence of armed people living in the same city with you.
“I did not lie or “regurgitates the myth of “hands up, don’t shoot”. I actually did put my hands up and did say “don’t shoot” to a capital hill police officer.”
Thank you for ADMITTING that you regurgitated the myth of “hands up, don’t shoot” protest by doing it to a cop.
“I’d like both counts to be zero and the easiest number to reduce is the number of civilian deaths at the hands of police.”
We would all like it to be zero. But we live in this place called “reality.” You might visit it once in a while. Because, in your world, violent criminals get to exercise their business with impunity. Your “war” is false. Your hatred of police is evident. Seek help.
@Steve Thomas
Exactly.
Those who are exploiting this horrific tragedy to take political potshots at Obama And diBlasio should be ashamed of he selves. Now is not the time for political fun and games. That is sickening and disgusting
Well apparently the cops have a real issue with DiBlasio. I think they were wrong to turn their backs on him. Not because I am judging whether he deserved it or not but because he is their boss (like a municipal president) and they need to respect the office, not the man.
Ed is now a mind reader. He sensed that the officer wanted to brandish, in order to threaten. He smelled the pheromones of the Alpha Male, and reacted as the Omega Male, assuming the submissive posture. He knows a Silverback when he sees one.
Um…DiBlasio, Obama, Holder, and a whole slew of folks have been pandering to the protestors for months and have joined with the race-hustlers in our society to help create this tinder-bundle. Now we see what happens….
I don’t have a problem with protests. However, don’t these people have jobs? How can any people take off this long to protest? What are they really protesting?
What is it they really want?
I understand anger over the dead of the loosie guy. That was wrong. Was the office disciplined for violating procedure? The grand jury apparently didn’t think there was enough evidence. I bet that guy is no longer on the street.
Right now I am listening to protestors out on the street chanting at cops who are mourning at the memorials that have sprung up over the two cops who were assassinated. Totally unacceptable…what I am hearing. It makes me sick.
“When you have people marching in the streets chanting “What do we want? Dead cops!” ”
What are the details of this incident? I’ve heard numerous references to it. How many people was it?
I saw it on TV multiple times, regardless of which TV channel I was on. It happened in NY.
I don’t know how many.
Details here: http://www.examiner.com/article/activists-at-new-york-protest-what-do-we-want-dead-cops
@Moon-howler
“However, don’t these people have jobs? How can any people take off this long to protest?”
Many are “professional protestors”. These are the same people who made up the core of the “Occupy” movement. They are the same groups that protest at the IMF and World Bank. If there’s unrest, the professional agitators will be there.
“What is it they really want?”
One Word: Anarchy.
They must have rich parents or rich sponsors. People have to have some means of support.
So you get anarchy…what does that get you, really?
Yeah, thanks Steve. I see that is a real story; it was some number of people, at a Sharpton rally.
It’s a legitimate news story. And that’s not the free speech I’m interested in justifying.
The police union guy is out of order though.
I agree with you about the Union Boss, Steve. He is stirring up trouble and is out of line.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/03/AR2005070300895.html
@Starry flights
Pot shots at De Blasio?
Are you TRYING to be clever?
And are you saying that the NYPD are trying to politicize the issue, that their displeasure with the mayor is ….what? Wrong? Fake? Misplaced?
@Moon-howler
“I understand anger over the dead of the loosie guy. That was wrong. Was the officer disciplined for violating procedure?”
Not that I know of. Nor was race involved. They were cracking down on such crime by order of the Mayor’s office. Thus, the Mayor is trying to deflect.
Yea the mayor is trying to deflect and that is what the cops are angry over. (or one of the things they are angry over)
Choke holds have been banned as a police tactic for a couple decades. Therefore he violated accepted procedure. I expect he was relieved of duty or suspended. I doubt if he is back on the street. It would be dangerous for him to be.
I also agree. I saw no evidence race was the issue. He could have just as easily been Buddah.
Sharpton is receiving death threats. Wonder who he reported that to? Wonder who he wants to protect him? DeBlasio got what he deserved. His speech to his son is absolutely fine and I understand it. But to re-tell it in the context he did was simply wrong. NYPD did not chose not to indict; citizens of NY did. Those officers felt thrown under a bus. He should have kept his child and personal thoughts to himself. I thought politicians preferred NOT to involve their children in their politics? Why Bratton decided not to discipline that officer handily is another matter. Not pursuing it criminally is one matter – internally? The officer violated department procedure.
What a cluster.
I thought the officer had been disciplined. My apologies. He should have been.
I don’t like that the police turned their backs on him, simply because of the office he holds. He is essentially their commander in chief. (sorta the same reason I don’t like that Jim Webb refused to shake Bush’s hand when he was a guest in the White House, even though I agreed with him on why.) I don’t blame the cops. I agree with them. I just wish they hadn’t done it. The petition is another matter.
I once had to shake Henry Hyde’s hand. I was a guest. I hated doing it but I did it because of formalities and protocol.
@Lyssa
Well said.
Someone made an excellent point this week that if De Blasio doesn’t trust his police, he should relieve them of their protective-detail duties and travel solo around NYC for a few days.
@Ed Myers This story rings false, but you get an “A” for creativity. It’s a good bet that the next time one of your neighbors in your nice gated community commits some grievous landscaping offense or parties too late into the night, you’ll be the first one calling those police who scare you so much.
“Aaron McNamara, an auxiliary officer with the Fairview Park Police Department, put in his resignation after getting caught commenting on multiple YouTube videos, referring to African Americans as “jungle monkeys,” and other racially charged language. On a YouTube video titled “Hood fight,” McNamara commented, “Abolishing slavery was the worst thing we could have done. These people should be exterminated.. Unbelievable.”
http://www.examiner.com/article/pro-slavery-cop-resigns-after-calling-for-the-extermination-of-all-blacks
@Ed Myers
““YOU DIDN’T LEAVE THE AREA.” Yes I did. I was in a group and I carefully walked so I remained 25 feet away ”
So..you admit that you DID NOT, in fact, leave the area. Thus, you truly did not feel threatened.
25 feet.
Look up Tueller Drill. Tell me about 25 feet as “leaving the area. You can cross that area in about 2 seconds.
Feeling threatened and leaving the area means getting out of view, and removing oneself completely away from the “threat.” Especially, as you say… one with a gun.
Or did you consider yourself at 25 feet. I mean…. some cops are lousy shots, but, I wouldn’t count on it.
You really are a special little snowflake.
Auxiliary police officer in Fairview Park is a volunteer helper, not a sworn police officer. McNamara made the racist comments before he volunteered for the Fairview Park Dept., which he joined circa five-six months ago. He “resigned” after the Dept. was informed of the comments and confronted him over them.
Ah, the old “Youtube video caused the riot” defense. Works for race riots, and embassy attacks.
Back to my question way up the thread: does anyone know what de Blasio said that caused the police unions to say that he “had blood on his hands” (or whatever variation of that statement placed the blame for the murder of the two policeman on the Mayor or the Mayor’s office)? Since I asked (50 comments ago or so), I did get a chance to look around and found nothing. No comments here have offered any references.
It seems an extraordinarily wicked charge unless there is some instance in which the Mayor advocated killing cops. If he did, he should be out of there in a New York second.
@Steve Thomas
One of the people arrested at the Brooklyn demonstration was an SEIU employee. He’s facing charges of felonious assault on a police officer. (Throwing two punches at a detective)
http://laborunionreport.com/2014/12/21/nypd-on-seiu-thug-organizer-hitting-cop-one-of-the-most-violent-acts-that-ive-seen/
Professional protester, indeed. The funny part is that the cop he attacked was probably a union member. Solidarity!
The theme in this post asks whether we treat communities equally…the black community when it greaves the loss of it’s citizens versus the police community. Both have fringe messages of violence (retaliation killings) that are rightfully condemned. (except some of you seem to give the police a free pass)
Will the govenor call out the National Guard when the police protest with a big funeral procession? I’d see that as equivalent to the a ferguson protests where the police brought out the heavy guns. It would be just as inflammatory but this time everyone would understand why a show of force at a funeral is so offensive and maybe sympathize with the Ferguson community.
I don’t see a peaceful end unless police agree to stop killing people. Killing is not necessary to apprehend even violent criminals. It is certainly not necessary to enforce tax collection on cigarette sales or take a toy from a kid on the playground.
It was one particular group of people doing the “dead cops” chant. They wanted attention, and must currently be thrilled.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/23/who-started-new-york-s-dead-cops-chant.html
No mention in the article of whether Obama or DeBlasio are in this group.