April 24, 2024 13:44 (IST)
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Gunman kills two New York police officers in Brooklyn
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): In a tragic incident, two New York police officers were fatally shot on Saturday by a gunman in Brooklyn "without any provocation."
"Today, two of New York's Finest were shot and killed, with no warning, no provocation. They were, quite simply, assassinated - targeted for their uniform, and for the responsibility they embraced: to keep the people of this city safe," New York city Police Department (NYPD) Police Commissioner William J. Bratton said in a statement.
"At approximately 2:47 PM today (Saturday), Police Officer Wenjian Liu and Police Officer Rafael Ramos were assigned to a Critical Response Vehicle, CRVs as we refer to them, in the confines of the 79 Precinct," he said.
While CRV is traditionally used for counterterrorism operations, in May this year, the department also assigned some vehicles to Housing Developments throughout the city.
While sitting in a marked NYPD police car, in full uniform, both officers were ambushed and murdered in front of 98 Tompkins Avenue in the Bedford Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn in New York City.
"Both officers are assigned to 84 Precinct, but were posted at this location as part of a Department crime reduction strategy to address the complaints of violence in the area of the Housing Developments in that area," he said.
Officer Ramos was in the driver seat, and Officer Liu was in the front passenger seat beside him.
According to witness statements, the suspect, who has been identified as 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, walked up to the police car. He took a shooting stance on the passenger side and fired his weapon several times through the front passenger window striking both officers in the head.
Officer Liu and Officer Ramos never had the opportunity to draw their weapons. They may never have actually seen their assailant, their murderer.
Other officers, who were also assigned to the CRV post, immediately pursued Brinsley southbound on Tompkins Avenue.
Brinsley then turned westbound on Myrtle Avenue and fled into the Myrtle Avenue and Willoughby Street (G) train subway station.
"He proceeded down the stairs onto the westbound subway platform. While on the platform, Brinsley shot himself in the head, took his own life. A silver semi-automatic Taurus firearm was recovered on the subway platform near the suspect's body," Bratton said.
"Officers Liu and Ramos were transported here, to Woodhull Hospital. Despite every effort to save their lives, both officers tragically succumbed to their injuries," he added.
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