This article is from the source 'washpo' 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.washingtonpost.com/national/in-new-york-rising-tensions-and-calls-for-unity-after-two-police-officers-are-killed/2014/12/21/6d63e252-8926-11e4-9e8d-0c687bc18da4_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| In New York, rising tensions and calls for unity after two police officers are killed | In New York, rising tensions and calls for unity after two police officers are killed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| NEW YORK — As New Yorkers called for unity after the assassination-style slaying of two police officers, tensions appeared to be rising Sunday as police supporters ramped up criticism of Mayor Bill de Blasio and his backers strongly defended him. | NEW YORK — As New Yorkers called for unity after the assassination-style slaying of two police officers, tensions appeared to be rising Sunday as police supporters ramped up criticism of Mayor Bill de Blasio and his backers strongly defended him. |
| A day after the New York City police officers were fatally shot in their patrol cars, Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president, stood next to the crime scene on Tompkins Avenue and said criticism of the mayor was unjustified. The head of the police union had said de Blasio was partly responsible for the deaths of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. | |
| “Blood is not on the hands of the mayor but on the sick person who took those lives,” Adams said in front of a batter of television cameras. “We’re better than that.” | “Blood is not on the hands of the mayor but on the sick person who took those lives,” Adams said in front of a batter of television cameras. “We’re better than that.” |
| But the strained relations between de Blasio and police — which date to his mayoral campaign, when he ran on a platform of reforming aggressive police practices that had outraged minorities — appeared to have burst into full view. Officers turned their backs on the mayor as he walked into the hospital where their two comrades died, and former New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly accused de Blasio of having run an “anti-police campaign.’’ | But the strained relations between de Blasio and police — which date to his mayoral campaign, when he ran on a platform of reforming aggressive police practices that had outraged minorities — appeared to have burst into full view. Officers turned their backs on the mayor as he walked into the hospital where their two comrades died, and former New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly accused de Blasio of having run an “anti-police campaign.’’ |
| Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,’’ Kelly said the backlash against de Blasio was fueled by the mayor’s recent comments about advising his son, who is half black, to take “special care” in encounters with police. “I think that set off this latest firestorm,’’ Kelly said. | Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,’’ Kelly said the backlash against de Blasio was fueled by the mayor’s recent comments about advising his son, who is half black, to take “special care” in encounters with police. “I think that set off this latest firestorm,’’ Kelly said. |
| As recriminations over the shootings intensified, police said Sunday that the same 9mm semiautomatic handgun that killed Liu and Ramos was probably used earlier Saturday near Baltimore to shoot and wound the former girlfriend of the suspect. Authorities identified the suspect as 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley and said he traveled from Baltimore to Brooklyn and killed the officers in a brazen ambush on a quiet street corner Saturday afternoon, before taking his own life. | |
| The officers were shot in the head at point-blank range while sitting beside each other in a police car in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, police said. | The officers were shot in the head at point-blank range while sitting beside each other in a police car in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, police said. |
| The shooting has heightened tensions in a country and city already roiled by demonstrations against police brutality in the wake of recent killings of unarmed black men by white police officers in Missouri and New York. | The shooting has heightened tensions in a country and city already roiled by demonstrations against police brutality in the wake of recent killings of unarmed black men by white police officers in Missouri and New York. |
| Just three hours before the shootings, the gunman declared his intention on his Instagram account to kill police officers as retribution for the police killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. | Just three hours before the shootings, the gunman declared his intention on his Instagram account to kill police officers as retribution for the police killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. |
| Before he made his way to Brooklyn on Saturday morning, police said, Brinsley shot his former girlfriend about 5:45 a.m. in Owings Mills, Md., about 15 miles outside Baltimore. Baltimore County police identified her as Shaneka Nicole Thompson, 29. | Before he made his way to Brooklyn on Saturday morning, police said, Brinsley shot his former girlfriend about 5:45 a.m. in Owings Mills, Md., about 15 miles outside Baltimore. Baltimore County police identified her as Shaneka Nicole Thompson, 29. |
| Police said in a statement that she was wounded in the abdomen by a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and is in critical but stable condition at an area hospital and that she is expected to survive. Police said they have not been able to interview her because of her condition but are hoping to speak with her later Sunday. | Police said in a statement that she was wounded in the abdomen by a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and is in critical but stable condition at an area hospital and that she is expected to survive. Police said they have not been able to interview her because of her condition but are hoping to speak with her later Sunday. |
| Brinsley’s address is unknown, and the police statement said authorities “believe he has no ties to the Baltimore area except Thompson.” Police said that they believe Brinsley and Thompson had a previous romantic relationship that dates back less than a year and that Thompson lived alone at the Owings Mills apartment where she was shot. | Brinsley’s address is unknown, and the police statement said authorities “believe he has no ties to the Baltimore area except Thompson.” Police said that they believe Brinsley and Thompson had a previous romantic relationship that dates back less than a year and that Thompson lived alone at the Owings Mills apartment where she was shot. |
| “There is no indication of prior criminal activity by Brinsley in Maryland,” the statement said. | “There is no indication of prior criminal activity by Brinsley in Maryland,” the statement said. |
| The shooting early Saturday occurred inside an apartment in the gated complex of Greenwich Place Town Center. Managers told a reporter to leave Saturday night and Sunday morning. | The shooting early Saturday occurred inside an apartment in the gated complex of Greenwich Place Town Center. Managers told a reporter to leave Saturday night and Sunday morning. |
| Thompson’s 71-year-old grandfather James Delly, who lives in South Carolina, said that he never heard of the suspect and that his granddaughter, with whom he is close, never mentioned him. “I don’t know anything about him,” he said in a telephone interview Sunday. | Thompson’s 71-year-old grandfather James Delly, who lives in South Carolina, said that he never heard of the suspect and that his granddaughter, with whom he is close, never mentioned him. “I don’t know anything about him,” he said in a telephone interview Sunday. |
| He said Thompson’s mother, who lives in South Carolina, is in Baltimore with her daughter at the hospital. Of the family, Delly said, “I think they’re just holding out to see if my granddaughter is going to come through.” | He said Thompson’s mother, who lives in South Carolina, is in Baltimore with her daughter at the hospital. Of the family, Delly said, “I think they’re just holding out to see if my granddaughter is going to come through.” |
| He said Thompson moved to Baltimore County from Fayetteville, N.C., about six months ago for a better job. | He said Thompson moved to Baltimore County from Fayetteville, N.C., about six months ago for a better job. |
| In New York, in the aftermath of the officers’ death, people seemed to be searching to understand what happened. | In New York, in the aftermath of the officers’ death, people seemed to be searching to understand what happened. |
| One resident of this Bedford-Stuyvesant community, who moved here from the Bronx three months ago, said seeing police parked in their cars in her neighborhood was reassuring. | One resident of this Bedford-Stuyvesant community, who moved here from the Bronx three months ago, said seeing police parked in their cars in her neighborhood was reassuring. |
| “I feel safe walking here,” said Michele Digby, 49. “We used to hear shots fired and bullet shells [in the Bronx], but not here.” | “I feel safe walking here,” said Michele Digby, 49. “We used to hear shots fired and bullet shells [in the Bronx], but not here.” |
| But Digby also said she was not surprised by the attack on the officers. | But Digby also said she was not surprised by the attack on the officers. |
| “I kind of figured this would happen eventually,” she said. “They let that policeman go,” referring to the jury’s decision not to indict the officer involved in the chokehold death of Staten Islander Eric Garner six months ago. | “I kind of figured this would happen eventually,” she said. “They let that policeman go,” referring to the jury’s decision not to indict the officer involved in the chokehold death of Staten Islander Eric Garner six months ago. |
| Victor Parker, 49, who said he has lived in this neighborhood all his life, nodded slowly when asked about how much tension exists between police and residents. | Victor Parker, 49, who said he has lived in this neighborhood all his life, nodded slowly when asked about how much tension exists between police and residents. |
| “A lot of it,” he said, especially lately. “When people see the cops they go, ‘Uh-oh.’ They feel they’re here to harass them.” | “A lot of it,” he said, especially lately. “When people see the cops they go, ‘Uh-oh.’ They feel they’re here to harass them.” |
| Parker also said he had seen Liu and Ramos before in the neighborhood. | Parker also said he had seen Liu and Ramos before in the neighborhood. |
| “They were just doing their job,” he said, shaking his head sadly. He said area residents had seen the two officers buying food at the deli across the street from their patrol car minutes before they were shot. | “They were just doing their job,” he said, shaking his head sadly. He said area residents had seen the two officers buying food at the deli across the street from their patrol car minutes before they were shot. |
| “They went to get lunch and came back and got ambushed,” he said. “. . . Civilians and cops need to get together.” | “They went to get lunch and came back and got ambushed,” he said. “. . . Civilians and cops need to get together.” |
| Standing in front of the ever-expanding sidewalk memorial to the dead officers, three of the city’s borough presidents announced that a candlelight vigil would be held here at the intersection of Tompkins and Myrtle at 6 p.m. Sunday. | Standing in front of the ever-expanding sidewalk memorial to the dead officers, three of the city’s borough presidents announced that a candlelight vigil would be held here at the intersection of Tompkins and Myrtle at 6 p.m. Sunday. |
| Adams, along with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, urged residents and law enforcement come together to talk about what happened here and the larger issues of race relations and community policing. | Adams, along with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, urged residents and law enforcement come together to talk about what happened here and the larger issues of race relations and community policing. |
| “The overwhelming majority of 35,000 men and women in uniform are out there protecting us,” Diaz said. “No matter where you stand on the debate. . . what happened here was wrong. What happened here was an assassination on all of us. . . .This should not and must not be tolerated.” | “The overwhelming majority of 35,000 men and women in uniform are out there protecting us,” Diaz said. “No matter where you stand on the debate. . . what happened here was wrong. What happened here was an assassination on all of us. . . .This should not and must not be tolerated.” |
| De Blasio, at a news conference Saturday evening, condemned the attack on the officers.“It’s clear that this was an assassination,” he said. “These officers were shot execution-style, a particularly despicable act which goes to the heart of our society and our democracy.” | De Blasio, at a news conference Saturday evening, condemned the attack on the officers.“It’s clear that this was an assassination,” he said. “These officers were shot execution-style, a particularly despicable act which goes to the heart of our society and our democracy.” |
| Yet the aftermath of the shootings loomed as the latest test of the mayor’s uneasy relationship with police and as a major test for New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton. One person close to the mayor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal dynamics, said Bratton is respected by officers but is not considered a “cop’s cop” like his predecessor, Kelly. | Yet the aftermath of the shootings loomed as the latest test of the mayor’s uneasy relationship with police and as a major test for New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton. One person close to the mayor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal dynamics, said Bratton is respected by officers but is not considered a “cop’s cop” like his predecessor, Kelly. |
| The person also said that the police union has been circulating a petition among officers urging that the mayor not be allowed to come to police funerals. | The person also said that the police union has been circulating a petition among officers urging that the mayor not be allowed to come to police funerals. |
| In Maryland, police said Brinsley fled the scene of the shooting of his former girlfriend before they arrived. By 1:30 p.m., police said, they became aware of Instagram posts by the suspect that included “threats against police officers.” Authorities said they quickly traced the posts and the phone that Brinsley was using to a location in Brooklyn. | In Maryland, police said Brinsley fled the scene of the shooting of his former girlfriend before they arrived. By 1:30 p.m., police said, they became aware of Instagram posts by the suspect that included “threats against police officers.” Authorities said they quickly traced the posts and the phone that Brinsley was using to a location in Brooklyn. |
| About 2:10 p.m., Baltimore County police called New York’s 70th Precinct to discuss the threatening Instagram posts and informed officers that Brinsley’s phone was “pinging” at a location in their precinct. At the same time, Baltimore County authorities said they faxed a “wanted” poster to the NYPD with information about Brinsley. Around 2:50 p.m., they sent a teletype with the same information in the flier to NYPD’s “real-time crime center.” | About 2:10 p.m., Baltimore County police called New York’s 70th Precinct to discuss the threatening Instagram posts and informed officers that Brinsley’s phone was “pinging” at a location in their precinct. At the same time, Baltimore County authorities said they faxed a “wanted” poster to the NYPD with information about Brinsley. Around 2:50 p.m., they sent a teletype with the same information in the flier to NYPD’s “real-time crime center.” |
| They were too late. At about 2:45 p.m., police said, Brinsley approached the officers’ marked patrol car outside Tompkins Houses in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn and began firing into the front passenger-side window. | They were too late. At about 2:45 p.m., police said, Brinsley approached the officers’ marked patrol car outside Tompkins Houses in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn and began firing into the front passenger-side window. |
| “I’m putting Wings on Pigs Today,” Brinsley wrote on his Instagram account beneath a photo of a silver-colored semiautomatic pistol and a pair of blood-stained camouflage pants. “They TAKE 1 Of Ours . . . Lets Take 2 of Theirs.” The Instagram photos use hashtags for Brown and Garner and appear to indicate that the shootings were an act of revenge. | “I’m putting Wings on Pigs Today,” Brinsley wrote on his Instagram account beneath a photo of a silver-colored semiautomatic pistol and a pair of blood-stained camouflage pants. “They TAKE 1 Of Ours . . . Lets Take 2 of Theirs.” The Instagram photos use hashtags for Brown and Garner and appear to indicate that the shootings were an act of revenge. |
| Brinsley stole his ex-girlfriend’s phone after the shooting before traveling to New York, authorities said. At some point along the way, he posted a menacing update on Facebook. | Brinsley stole his ex-girlfriend’s phone after the shooting before traveling to New York, authorities said. At some point along the way, he posted a menacing update on Facebook. |
| “I Always Wanted To Be Known For Doing Something Right . . . But My Past Is Stalking Me and My Present Is Haunting Me,” it read. | “I Always Wanted To Be Known For Doing Something Right . . . But My Past Is Stalking Me and My Present Is Haunting Me,” it read. |
| Bratton said investigators were looking into all of Brinsley’s social-media accounts in an attempt to unravel the shooter’s motivations. | Bratton said investigators were looking into all of Brinsley’s social-media accounts in an attempt to unravel the shooter’s motivations. |
| “Some of the postings, which I understand are out there, would seem to indicate that he had a very strong bias against police officers,” Bratton said. | “Some of the postings, which I understand are out there, would seem to indicate that he had a very strong bias against police officers,” Bratton said. |
| He said investigators have no reason to believe that Brinsley has any connection to terrorist groups. | He said investigators have no reason to believe that Brinsley has any connection to terrorist groups. |
| “We’re not seeing a connectivity to any organized entity at this time,” Bratton noted. | “We’re not seeing a connectivity to any organized entity at this time,” Bratton noted. |
| After the shooting, Brinsley ran up the street and was pursued by other officers into a subway station, where he was found with a gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted, police said. He was declared dead at a nearby hospital, police said. | After the shooting, Brinsley ran up the street and was pursued by other officers into a subway station, where he was found with a gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted, police said. He was declared dead at a nearby hospital, police said. |
| Hermann and Markon reported from Washington. Peter Holley, Sean Sullivan, J. Freedom du Lac, Ed O’Keefe and David Nakamura in Washington contributed to this report. | Hermann and Markon reported from Washington. Peter Holley, Sean Sullivan, J. Freedom du Lac, Ed O’Keefe and David Nakamura in Washington contributed to this report. |