New York Police Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, who were shot dead by gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley
New York Police Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, who were shot dead by gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley.Reuters

Two New York Police Department policemen were shot dead on Saturday afternoon by a gunman, who then killed himself. In an assassination-style attack, the killer identified as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, was supposedly avenging the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown.

The NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton, in a press conference held at Woohull medical centre in the borough revealed that the two officers murdered by Brunsley were Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. Bratton said at the conference, "There is no more emotional time for a police officer... A death of this nature, an assassination, it's unlike any other type of emotion. It's hard to deal with."

The NYPD commissioner also disclosed that the 28-Year-Old Brinsley, had made "very anti-police" postings on the Instagram social media site and that these were being investigated. Brinsley had posted the photo of the gun he used to kill the officer, a silver automatic handgun with a wooden handle, on Instagram along with the caption, "I'm Putting Wings on Pigs Today... They Take 1 Of Ours...Let's Take 2 of Theirs #ShootThePolice #RIPErivGardner #RIPMikeBrown This may be my final post".

Two NYPD police officers shot dead by man avenging Eric Garner, Michael Brown.
Ismaaiyl Brinsley uploaded the photo of the gun he used to shoot the NYPD police officers on Saturday.Reuters

The New York post suggests that Brinsley was avenging the deaths of Brown and Garner, both of whom died at the hands of police officers. Brinsley, who was a rapper, is said to have taken part in the recent anti-police protests brewing in the US, following the deaths of the two young African- Americans.

Brinsley had also posted a picture of his leg, clad in camouflage pants, and distinctive blue sneakers worn by the assassin.

New York Times reported that Brinsley walked up to the patrol car parked at the corner of Myrtle and Tompkins Avenue from the sidewalk around 2.47 pm, and shot into the front passenger side window. He then ran into the subway and shot himself in the head.

Brinsley is reportedly a fugitive, who had just murdered a woman suspected to be his girlfriend, on Sunday.