Man who killed two New York policemen told people on street 'watch what I'm going to do'

A GUNMAN who killed two New York policemen told members of the public to "watch what I'm going to do" moments before opening fire, police have said.

New York City police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos SPLASH•DEMOTIX

Gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley (left) shot NYPD officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos (right from top)

Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, made deadly threats against officers online before he ambushed patrolmen Wenjin Liu and Raphael Ramos as they sat in their police car in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbourhood.

After shooting the officers in the head, Brinsley ran into a nearby subway station and killed himself with the same gun.

Shortly before the attack, Brinsley had approached people on the street and asked them to follow him on social networking site Instagram, Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said today.

Hours earlier, the career criminal had shot and injured a former girlfriend 190 miles away in Baltimore, Maryland, before launching threats against the police online.

The murders of Mr Liu and Mr Ramos, carried out in broad daylight, were apparently in revenge for the death of Eric Garner.

The unarmed black man, suspected of selling untaxed cigarettes, died after being put in a choke-hold by police.

Mr Garner’s death and that of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, shot and killed by police in Missouri, have sparked waves of unrest across the US.

Police revealed that two hours before the cop killings at about 2.45pm on Saturday afternoon, Brinsley had posted a picture of a silver gun on Instagram with the chilling message: “I’m Putting Wings On Pigs Today.

Ismaaiyl Brinsley who killed two NYPD officers SPLASH

Ismaaiyl Brinsley who killed two NYPD officers "execution style"

The weapon the suspect used to killed NYPD police officers AP

The weapon the suspect used to killed NYPD police officers

Shock and anger in NY after two police murdered

It’s horrible that someone gets shot dead just for being a police officer

Jaden Ramos

"They Take 1 Of Ours...

“Let’s Take 2 of Theirs #ShootThePolice #RIPErivGardner (sic) #RIPMikeBrown.

"This May Be My Final Post.

"I’m Putting Pigs In A Blanket.”

Authorities today revealed that Brinsley had a long criminal record, a hatred for police and the government, and an apparent history of mental instability that included an attempt to hang himself a year ago.

Speaking of the police victims, NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said: “They were quite simply assassinated.”

Last night, Officer Ramos’s 13-year-old son Jaden said on Facebook: “Today I had to say bye to my father.

"He was there for me every day of my life, he was the best father I could ask for.

"It’s horrible that someone gets shot dead just for being a police officer.

Police and forensic specialists pored over the intersection in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn GETTY

Police and forensic specialists pored over the murder scene

“Everyone says they hate cops but they are the people that they call for help.

"I will always love you and I will never forget you. RIP Dad.”

Accompanying the post was a photo of the teen with his father as they celebrated his 40th birthday.

After discovering the wounding of Brinsley’s ex-girlfriend in Maryland on Saturday morning, Baltimore police began a desperate search and alerted the New York Police Department to the danger.

But by the time an alert was issued, Brinsley was already carrying out his deadly attack.

The double killing has sparked anger among officers’ associations, who blame the city’s mayor Bill de Blasio.

They say he was wrong to support a protest march against a grand jury decision to not indict the officer who killed Mr Garner.

And many police now fear deadly copycat attacks.

A Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association statement said: “The mayor’s hands are dripping with our blood because of his words, actions and policies and we have, for the first time in a number of years, become a ‘wartime’ police department.

Police cordon off the murder scene GETTY

Police cordon off the murder scene

"We will act accordingly.”

Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik said: “De Blasio and all those who encouraged this anti-cop, racist mentality all have blood on their hands.”

But the mayor said: “It’s unfortunate that in a time of great tragedy, some would resort to the irresponsible, overheated rhetoric that angers and divides people.”

Officers yesterday turned their back on the mayor as he arrived for a press conference.

Meanwhile, detectives think Brinsley, who was armed with a semi-automatic pistol he bought in Georgia, may well have been visiting his child, who lives in Brooklyn.

He had a lengthy criminal record with numerous arrests for violence and carrying weapons.

Officer Liu, 32, who married in October had served four years with the force.

Officer Ramos, 40, a father-of-one, joined the NYPD in 2012.

Both were taken to Woodhull Medical Center for treatment but doctors could not save them and they were later pronounced dead.

Hundreds of officers lined the streets outside the hospital to salute their fallen comrades.

Mourners stand at attention as the bodies of two fallen NYPD police officers AP

Mourners stand at attention as the bodies of two fallen NYPD police officers
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