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New York police shootings: 'Watch what I'm going to do' gunman tells onlookers moments before he opens fire | New York police shootings: 'Watch what I'm going to do' gunman tells onlookers moments before he opens fire |
(35 minutes later) | |
The New York gunman who shot dead two police officers before killing himself allegedly boasted to onlookers: “Watch what I’m going to do,” and urged them to follow him on Instagram just moments before the attack. | The New York gunman who shot dead two police officers before killing himself allegedly boasted to onlookers: “Watch what I’m going to do,” and urged them to follow him on Instagram just moments before the attack. |
Yesterday, US police officers were studying 28 year old Ismaaiyl Brinsley’s activity on social media in the hours before attacking and killing officers Wenjin Liu, 32, and Rafael Ramos, 40. | Yesterday, US police officers were studying 28 year old Ismaaiyl Brinsley’s activity on social media in the hours before attacking and killing officers Wenjin Liu, 32, and Rafael Ramos, 40. |
Shortly after Brinsley shot girlfriend Shaneka Thompson, 29, a Veterans Affairs officer, he posted on her Instagram account messages referring to Eric Garner and Michael Brown – two black men who have died after altercations with police. | Shortly after Brinsley shot girlfriend Shaneka Thompson, 29, a Veterans Affairs officer, he posted on her Instagram account messages referring to Eric Garner and Michael Brown – two black men who have died after altercations with police. |
Online Brinsley vowed to “put wings on pigs” and posted “let’s take two of theirs”. | |
Shaneka Thompson, 29, a Veterans Affairs officer, was shot by Brinsley | Shaneka Thompson, 29, a Veterans Affairs officer, was shot by Brinsley |
In the full message Brinsley wrote on Instagram: “I’m Putting Wings On Pigs Today. They Take 1 Of Ours ……Let’s Take 2 of Theirs #ShootThePolice #ErivGarner [sic] #RIPMikeBrown”. | In the full message Brinsley wrote on Instagram: “I’m Putting Wings On Pigs Today. They Take 1 Of Ours ……Let’s Take 2 of Theirs #ShootThePolice #ErivGarner [sic] #RIPMikeBrown”. |
A chilling post by Ismayyil Brinsley on Instagram | A chilling post by Ismayyil Brinsley on Instagram |
He finished by writing, two hours before the attack, “This May Be My Final Post…I’m Putting Pigs In A Blanket”. The Instagram account DontRunUp is no longer available online. | He finished by writing, two hours before the attack, “This May Be My Final Post…I’m Putting Pigs In A Blanket”. The Instagram account DontRunUp is no longer available online. |
Thompson is believed to be in a critical but stable condition Ms Thompson, who was shot in the stomach, is reported by the MailOnline.com to be in a critical but stable condition and is expected to eventually recover. Officers are keen to speak with her to ascertain Brinsley’s state of mind in the hours before the attack. | Thompson is believed to be in a critical but stable condition Ms Thompson, who was shot in the stomach, is reported by the MailOnline.com to be in a critical but stable condition and is expected to eventually recover. Officers are keen to speak with her to ascertain Brinsley’s state of mind in the hours before the attack. |
Rafael Ramos (left) and Wenjian Liu were shot dead while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn Brinsley is reported to have had a violent history, his records indicating he had been arrested 19 times, and police reported his childhood was so troubled that even his mother was afraid of him. | Rafael Ramos (left) and Wenjian Liu were shot dead while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn Brinsley is reported to have had a violent history, his records indicating he had been arrested 19 times, and police reported his childhood was so troubled that even his mother was afraid of him. |
Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told the BBC that his online postings expressed: “self-despair and anger at himself and where his life was''. | Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told the BBC that his online postings expressed: “self-despair and anger at himself and where his life was''. |
US President Barack Obama has condemned the attacks, saying there was "no justification" for the attacks. | |
"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," said Mr Obama. | |
The attack is the latest incident heightening racial tensions in the US after the deaths of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson and father-of-six Eric Garner in New York in altercations with white policemen. | The attack is the latest incident heightening racial tensions in the US after the deaths of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson and father-of-six Eric Garner in New York in altercations with white policemen. |
Both deaths – and subsequent decisions by two grand juries not to prosecute the officers – have angered much of America. | Both deaths – and subsequent decisions by two grand juries not to prosecute the officers – have angered much of America. |