Two uniformed New York Police Department (NYPD) officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, were shot and killed ‘execution-style’ while sitting in their patrol car by an identified lone gunman, Ismaaiyl Brinsley.
Brinsley who committed suicide by a self-inflicted gun shot wound at a nearby subway station after assassinating both officers was reported to have posted several hate messages targeted towards the police and government on social media and was acting based on an apparent outrage following recent killings of unarmed African Americans as a result of alleged police brutality.
Brinsley was already a fugitive as he was suspected of shooting his girlfriend in the stomach prior to traveling to New York. It was also reported that Baltimore Police Department had contacted NYPD warning them of Brinsley’s trip to Brooklyn but unfortunately, the fax message arrived too late, five minutes before the tragic assassination.
According to CNN reports, authorities said one of his Instagram posts who apparently had several criminal records and had been arrested 15 times in Georgia and four times in Ohio for several types of crime read: “I’m Putting Wings On Pigs Today. They Take 1 Of Ours, Let’s Take 2 of Theirs.” The post was also reported to have ended with, “This May Be My Final Post.” The post also include a picture of a silver handgun that he apparently used at 2:45 p.m. to slain the two officers. Another post also read “I Rather Die a Gangster Then Go To Sleep A Coward.” Three hashtags, ShootThePolice, RIPMikeBrown and RIPErivGarner (sic) were also reported to have been used by Brinsley.
These killings have not only been heartbreaking but devastating to the United States government, police community, friends and family members of the deceased. In a post by Jaden Ramos, 13-year-old son of Ramos, who was killed by Brinsley, he wrote:
“Today is the worst day of my life,” ….. “Today I had to say bye to my father,”…. “He was (there) for me everyday of my life, he was the best father I could ask for. It’s horrible that someone gets shot dead just for being a police officer. Everyone says they hate cops but they are the people that they call for help. I will always love you and I will never forget you. RIP Dad.”
New York Mayor, Bill de Blasio who earlier met with the families of the victims said “When a police officer is murdered, it tears at the foundation of our society,” ….. “It is an attack on the very concept of decency.”
Additionally, United States President ‘Barack Obama’ joined in condemning the shooting and sent his condolence message concerning the slain officers. “Two brave men won’t be going home to their loved ones tonight, and for that, there is no justification,” President Obama said in a statement. “The officers who serve and protect our communities risk their own safety for ours every single day — and they deserve our respect and gratitude every single day.”
U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder also called this killings “an unspeakable act of barbarism.”
The New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo requested that all flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff in New York City.
Photo Credit: DCPI, Facebook
