Man guns down 2 New York cops : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Man guns down 2 New York cops

NEW YORK: Two New York police officers were shot and killed at point-blank range in their patrol car here by a man with an apparent grudge who later committed suicide with the same gun, officials said.

Man guns down 2 New York cops

Police officers salute as vehicles containing the bodies of two New York Police officers who were shot dead drive by in the Brooklyn borough of New York on December 20, 2014. — Reuters



New York, December 21

Two New York police officers were shot and killed at point-blank range in their patrol car here by a man with an apparent grudge who later committed suicide with the same gun, officials said, amid weeks of nation-wide protests over police killings of unarmed black men.

The slain officers were identified as Wenjin Liu, a seven-year veteran of the NYPD, and Raphael Ramos, who joined the force two years ago.

The 28-year-old gunman was identified as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, a black man, who had driven over 300 km from Baltimore. Authorities said he had written in social media posts that he planned to kill police officers in the wake of the deaths of two blacks, Eric Garner and Michael Brown, by police officers.

“Although we’re still learning the details, it’s clear that this was an assassination, that these officers were shot execution style,” said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Our city is in mourning. Our hearts are heavy,” he said at a press conference on yesterday’s killings.

“Our entire city was attacked by this heinous individual,” theMmayor said.

New York Police Commissioner William Bratton said Ramos and Liu were among New York’s “finest” police officers and “were shot and killed with no warning or provocation while they were sitting in their police car in Brooklyn.

“While sitting in a marked police car, both were ambushed and murdered. Both officers paid the ultimate sacrifice today while protecting the communities they served,” Bratton said.

Authorities said Brinsley walked up to the police car in which the two officers were sitting and “took a shooting stance” outside their vehicle in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.

He shot through the passenger side window on the officers’ heads and upper bodies in an attack so sudden that the officers could not even draw their weapons.

He then ran to a nearby subway station and committed suicide by shooting himself as officers closed in.

A semi-automatic handgun was recovered at the scene.

“Officer Ramos and Officer Liu never had the opportunity to draw their weapons,” Bratton said, adding that “They may never have had the chance to see their murderer.” Bratton said Brinsley had shot and seriously wounded his ex-girlfriend last morning in Baltimore and made posts from her Instagram account that were “very anti-police.” An online posting suggested a link between Brinsley, who was black, and anger over the death of Garner.

The account, using the slang insult pig for police, said: “I’m Putting Wings On Pigs Today. They Take 1 Of Ours ...

Let’s Take 2 of Theirs.”

#ShootThePolice #RIPErivGardner (sic) #RIPMikeBrown This May Be My Final Post. I’m Putting Pigs In A Blanket,” (sic).

The shooting of the police officers comes days after protests had erupted across the US over the deaths by black men Garner and Brown at the hands of the police. — PTI

Top News

Arvind Kejriwal to be produced before Delhi court today as 6-day ED custody ends

Arvind Kejriwal reaches Delhi court; to be produced before judge as 6-day ED custody ends

Special Judge Kaweri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court, who i...

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

The bench refuses to comment on merits of the issue, saying ...

US makes another remark on Kejriwal's arrest, reacts to freezing of Congress bank accounts

US makes another remark on Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, reacts to freezing of Congress bank accounts

We encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes, s...

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, wife Gurpreet Kaur welcome baby girl

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann blessed with baby girl

Bhagwant Mann tied the knot with Dr Gurpreet Kaur from Pehow...


Cities

View All