This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/dec/20/two-nypd-officers-shot-dead-brooklyn-gunman-shoots-himself

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Two NYPD officers shot dead in Brooklyn before gunman shoots himself Two NYPD officers 'assassinated' in Brooklyn before gunman shoots himself
(about 1 hour later)
Two New York City police officers were shot and killed in their patrol car on Saturday afternoon, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD). Two New York City police officers were shot and killed in their patrol car on Saturday afternoon, the New York Police Department confirmed.
The two officers were parked in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn when a gunman ambushed them, deputy chief Kim Royster told the New York Times. The two officers were rushed to Woodhull hospital, where one was pronounced dead. At a press conference held at Woodhull hospital on Saturday night, NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton said the two officers, whom he named as Wenjin Liu and Rafael Ramos, had been “quite simply assassinated”.
The NYPD scheduled a press conference for 7pm, with Mayor Bill de Blasio due to speak. Liu and Ramos were parked in a marked patrol car in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, near the Tompkins Houses public development, when they were ambushed by a gunman whom Bratton named as Ismail Brinsley. The two officers were rushed to Woodhull hospital but, Bratton said: “Despite every effort to save their lies, both officers tragically succumbed.”
Police said the suspect entered a nearby subway station and shot himself. He died from a gunshot wound to the head. “Officer Ramos and Officer Liu never had time to draw their weapons,” Bratton said. “They may have also never had time to see their assailant.”
Subway service on the G train was partially suspended following the incident. Police also blocked off the streets where the shooting occurred. Following Bratton, New York mayor Bill de Blasio said: “Our city is in mourning, our hearts are heavy, we lost two good men who devoted their lives to protect the city they loved.
A witness, Derrick Thompson, told the Associated Press the shooting happened across from the Tompkins Houses public housing development. “Our hearts go out to their families to their comrades in arms at the 84th precinct, to the family of the NYPD.”
“I was watching TV, and then I heard the helicopters,” Thompson said. “I walked out, and all of a sudden – this.” Bratton said Brentley entered a nearby subway station and shot himself. He died from a gunshot wound to the head. A weapon was recovered at the scene. Subway service on the G train was partially suspended following the incident and police blocked off the streets where the shooting occurred.
Relations between the NYPD and citizens have been tense in recent months following the death of a civilian, Eric Garner, who was put in an illegal chokehold by an officer. Bratton said a woman in Baltimore had been shot and seriously wounded at her residence on Saturday morning, and that the suspect, Brinsley, had subsequently been posting on victim’s Instagram account and that the police investigation would consider the postings, which he said were “very anti-police”.
Last month, a grand jury voted not to indict the officer involved, sparking continuing protests in the city against police violence in that and other incidents. In November, city police fatally shot Akai Gurley, an unarmed black 28-year-old who was walking down a stairwell. Relations between the NYPD and citizens have been tense in recent months following the death of a civilian, Eric Garner, who was put in an illegal chokehold by an officer. Last month, a grand jury voted not to indict the officer involved, sparking continuing protests in the city against police violence in that and other incidents. In November, city police fatally shot Akai Gurley, an unarmed black 28-year-old who was walking down a stairwell.
In response to reports about the gunman’s possible motives, the civil rights campaigner the Reverend Al Sharpton, a leading voice in recent protests, issued a statement. He said: “I have spoken to the Garner family and we are outraged by the early reports of the police killed in Brooklyn today. Earlier on Saturday, in response to widespread reports about the gunman’s possible motives, the civil rights campaigner the Reverend Al Sharpton issued a statement. He said: “I have spoken to the Garner family and we are outraged by the early reports of the police killed in Brooklyn today.
“The Garner family and I have always stressed that we do not believe that all police are bad, in fact we have stressed that most police are not bad.”“The Garner family and I have always stressed that we do not believe that all police are bad, in fact we have stressed that most police are not bad.”
The last NYPD officer fatally shot on duty was Peter J Figoski, who was killed in December 2011.The last NYPD officer fatally shot on duty was Peter J Figoski, who was killed in December 2011.
The New York City public advocate, Letitia James, released a statement in which she said: “My deepest thoughts and prayers are with the families of the police officers killed in the line of duty today.The New York City public advocate, Letitia James, released a statement in which she said: “My deepest thoughts and prayers are with the families of the police officers killed in the line of duty today.
“Today, the entire city mourns with the NYPD.”“Today, the entire city mourns with the NYPD.”