2 NYPD cops killed in ambush-style shooting

A 20-something black man shot dead two police officers in a patrol car and killed himself. The suspect posted messages on his social networking service implying retaliation for the deaths of blacks who were either shot dead or choked death by white police officers.

As a result, the racial division, which has been deepened since the grand jury’s decision not to indict police officers who killed black people, is likely to escalate into a new phase. U.S. President Barack Obama who was on vacation in Hawaii condemned the shooting in a statement, “For that, there is no justification.”

According to the New York Police Department and the New York Times, 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley walked up to the passenger-side window of a police patrol car where two police officers were inside and shot into the car in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York at around 3 p.m. on Saturday. Mr. Brinsley shot several rounds into the upper bodies of the officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, and they were taken to a nearby hospital. One died before arrival and the other was pronounced dead after treatment, the NYPD said.

New York Mayor Bill De Blasio said in a press conference, “Although we`re still learning the details, it`s clear that this was an assassination, that these officers were shot execution style.” Mr. Brinsley, known to be a Baltimore gang member, ran to a nearby subway station after the shooting and killed himself with a gun in the station, the NYPD said.

Mr. Brinsley wrote a post on Eric Garner and Michael Brown, who were killed by white police officers on his Facebook and Instagram, saying, "I`m putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours, let`s take 2 of theirs.” His final post on Facebook was that he always wanted to do the right thing and become famous. Some media reported that he could speak Arabic and used his middle name “Abdullah.” They said he could have injured two police officers after wielding a hand ax to four NYPD officers two months ago.

“Two brave men won’t be going home to their loved ones tonight,” President Obama said in a statement. “I ask people to reject violence and words that harm, and turn to words that heal – prayer, patient dialogue.” Rev. Al Sharpton of National Action Network, who has led the protests against racial discrimination, said, "Any use of the names of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, in connection with any violence or killing of police, is reprehensible and against the pursuit of justice in both cases."

U.S. media reported that some Republicans criticized the Obama administration`s being compassionate about the protestors condemning police caused the situation.