>> are there others like him? >> we may be concerned, the call several weeks ago after four young officers were attacked by the individual with a hatchet. our investigation clearly indicated that that was an act of terrorism. that that individual had become inspired to commit that act by con continual. and then putting out about the lone wolf of type of attacks that encourage our officers to work in pairs, increase the security around station houses. so one of the unfortunate realities of policing is that you put that blue uniform on and you become part of that thin blue line between us and anarchy. and from time to time, we are

victimized by it as certainly happened today. and it's the specific motivation. hopefully we'll be able to determine that. but at the moment, that's what's so contempting to investigate. >> mayor, do you think this attack is going to. [ inaudible ] >> i think this is a time to think about these families. i don't think it's a time for politics or political analysis. it's a time to think about families that just lost their father, their husband, their son. we met those families. and what we should be thinking about now is how to support these families and how to ensure that not only our communities are safe, but our officers are safe. that's why i'm saying this is something important here. this individual, this horrible assassin, put information on the internet. it was a very, very brief timeline. but there may be other people posting things like this and what we should focus on is if

anybody knows of anybody who puts information like that on the internet or says it to someone, it has to be reported right away so we can protect our officers, protect, again, our entire civilization. >>. [ inaudible ] >> nothing in terms of the postings that this individual may have made this afternoon. let's face it, there's been not just in new york but throughout the country, a very strong antipolice, anticriminal justice system, antisocietal set of initiatives under way. and one of the unfortunate aspects sometimes, people get caught up in these and go in directions they should not. as to whether this individual was part of any of that, part of

any demonstrations here, atlanta, where we believe his last senresidence, that's part the investigation to determine what he has been doing these past several weeks and some sanity to the streets of brooklyn. >> we have the spelling of the names and ages of the victims? >> actually, we can give that out separately. >> any protocols taken to protect police if they're stabbed in protests? >> no, the protocols we put in place several weeks ago and looking into as much as possible, continually reminding our officers to watch out for each other. making aware to the public, if somebody's sentiments going over the line from talking about it or seeking to carry out attacks

against not only police but other officials, in some respects, like the homeland security advisory. see something, say something. it doesn't just relate to terrorism. it relates to so many other issues. the tragedy here is just as the warning was coming in, the murder was occurring. and there's another irony here, we do several press conferences that we hope to equip every officer with a smartphone and put it into every one of our vehicles, tablets, that would have allowed in an incidence like this, we had a photograph of the officers. but would not see the photograph until at role call. we could have sent out to all officers. it's the picture you need to be watching for. as indicated, he's going to

attack police. or when a missing child, so the technology is coming and here's an example of how it's going to benefit the safety of our officers and the public as we go forward. >>. [ inaudible ] >> we have no information to that effect at this time. as you would appreciate, what we do, the canvassing in the neighborhood and looking at the various cameras in the neighborhood. talking to people who might have been on the street. people who are in the buildings. where the shooting occurred and in that regard, if anybody seeing these newscasts, reading about this are aware that they may have information that might be of assistance to us, we certainly encourage they call us and give us that information. at least give us the opportunity to talk with them to see if information they have might be helpful to us in the

investigation. >> is there any connection with the family? >> i've already indicated at this early stage, see any linkage to terrorism or radical groups but that's what the investigation will hope to determine going forward as we get access if in fact it was somebody that had social media accounts. we have not encountered that yet as of the incident occurred about four hours ago. >> thank you, sir. thank you everybody. >> thank you. >> members of the media, please just hang tight. we'll escort you back to the hospital. >> a heartbroken nypd and heartbroken families of the two police officers that were shot and killed execution style in the streets of brooklyn, new york, this afternoon. while that gunman fled the scene, went into a subway station platform where he went

out on it and shhimself in the head. raphiael ramos, left behind a wife, his 13-year-old son and his partner, wen gin luu from the 84th precinct. the gunman, 28-year-old brinsly who went, traveled from baltimore after shooting an injurying his exgirlfriend, posting on insta gram of his intentions going to new york with ties to the east flat bush area of new york and then going to these police officers in their marked vehicle while they were uniformed and execution style shot at them through the front passenger window. the officers never had a chance to draw their weapon and maybe didn't see the gunmen.

there's questions as to what the gunman's motive is. from the press conference, he's seen someone with an extreme antipolice and antijudicial system. as far as his initiatives and his intentions, so now comes the investigation as to what happened. the police commissioner of new york city said quite simply, these two were assassinated. targeted for their uniform and the responsibility to keep people safe and the mayor of new york, bill de blaj owe speaking out saying this is a despicable act, tearing through the foundation of society and this is an attack on all of us. the entire city attacked by this heinous individual. also, some information coming out of there is that these warning signs. there were warning signs that came in, but the police commissioner said these warning signs were simply, came too quickly and the killings take place as the warnings came in. specifically, local authorities there in baltimore that sent a wanted flyer, had faxed that to

new york city authorities warning them of his ties to east flat wood and the shooting of his exgirlfriend in baltimore. and also, the instagram, via postings on this gunman's social media page. let's go to the sound earlier in the news conference where police commissioner bill bratton were speaking. >> today, two of new york's finest were shot and killed with no warning. no provocation. they were, quite simply, assassinated. >> we want to bring in our jim calfgnaw into this conversation. i'm sure you were listening to that. it was a tragedy that there were warnings coming up but it was simply too late. they were received as the killings, the attack was taking place. jim? >> right, francis. i think the commissioner outlined just how close in time

the baltimore police had sent the fax to the nypd at 2:45 this afternoon outlining this shooter's past, he shot his girlfriend and he was going to brooklyn. his intentions. and at 2:47, the outline that these were shot in their vehicles with no warning. it's a matter of a couple of minutes in the lives of the balance and he also talked about trying to leverage the technology for the officers at nypd, you know. and we don't think that officers could not be equipped with cell phones. and ipads and lap ttops to get this stuff quickly. this is where city leaders across the country have to make sure that law enforcement have that equipment on their belt. we're all walking around with it. minutes count. not only minutes lives of

officers but all of us. the police could be notified quickly with a photograph of someone to stop a killing, a murder, a mass murder attack. that could be done for sure. >> jim, how will this weigh on other members of the force in nypd and other departments in the country? they head in, put their uniform on and badge. this is weighing heavily in their minds and hearts as they go about it but also, you know what, as the commissioner said, they were targeted simply for their uniform, for their responsibility to keep people safe. >> exactly, francis. police officers know that everyday. they know that everybody knows who they are. you know? >> it's different this time, given so much anxiety and so much hatred, the divide between the public and the outrage we've seen before in the cases of eric garner and michael brown and the grand juries who did not indict these police officers.

it's even more so. >> oh, exactly it is. the officers know that. they'll be strapping on their duty belts tonight for the 11:00 shift. they know that going out. and i think for us across the country in some areas where chief in commanders may double up their radio cars for a little while to make sure there's nothing to put, but it looks like one suicidal maniac who took this cause in which he had no part of and decided to ambush in cold blood these two good men and we hope there's no repeats of it. but like the mayor said and the commissioner said, if anybody has any information about anybody who would harm an officer, they should report it immediately. don't sit on it or think they didn't mean it or think it couldn't happen. same for social media postings. >> sure. >> they should bring charges against people who post threats against the police because it's a federal crime, a threat by

wire. it's usually a state crime of terroristist threats. they should charge people for that. >> attorney general eric holder released this statement. he said, i condemn this afternoon's senseless shootings of two new york city police officers in the strongest possible terms. this was an unspeakable act of bar barrism and i was deeply saddened to hear this loss of duty. on behalf of those who serve the united states department of justice, i want to express condolence to the leagucolleagud family. and aid to those. underscores the dangers routinely faced by those who protect and serve their fellow citizens. he goes on to say, as a nation, we must not forget this as we discuss the events of the recent paths. these men and women place their lives everyday in order to preserve public safety. we're forever in their debt.

our nation must always honor the valor and sacrifice of the law enforcement officers of the steadfast commitment. that means forging closer bonds between officers and the communities they serve so that public safety is not a cause that is served by a courageous few, but a promise that's fulfilled by police officials and citizens working side by side. given the fact there's such a bruised relationship with so many members of the public and also different departments across the nation, just being a police officer now, how can that start, jim? >> well, i think that is the best thing, is the communication. for all to recognize that the police really are just made up of the citizens. they're not any foreign force. police are us, the citizens and the citizens are the police. which you understand how it works in a democracy, then you understand the police are. they're a union organization, there's going to be mistakes in

any human organization. give them the tools. doesn't mean they can't be fairly criticized but can't be threatened or attack. we have to take action to stop that. this is so heartbreaking this holiday week for the nypd. they've had this before. i can remember back 40 years ago when foster and laurie, two patrolmen were assassinated brutally. they've had it before as the commissioner said. and they'll live through it. they're the largest department in the united states. one of the largest in the world with 35,000 officers and they do a great job of policing that city. so everybody needs to think about what they do everyday for everybody who's in new york city. >> and put it in perspective, you speak of christmas here at the start of the holidays. we talk about a family who lost, ramos, leaves behind a wife and 13-year-old son who police commissioner bratton said could

not comprehend what happened. 13-year-old son without his father and officer wijn luu leaves behind a wife after this tragedy. earlier, just a few moments ago from this press conference, mayor deblagio spoke, here's what he had to say. >> although we're learning the details, it's clear this was an assassination. that these officers were shot execution style. particularly despicable act, which goes at the very heart of our society and democracy when a police officer is murdered. it tears at the foundation of our society. it is an attack on all of us. it's an attack on everything we hold dear. we depend on our police to

protect us against forces of criminality and evil. they are a foundation of our society and when they are attacked, it is an attack on the very concept of de scency. >> eric holder mentioned in the statement he will make available all the resources of the department to aid the nypd in investigating this tragedy. what is he talking about when it comes to these resources that may help them? >> certainly, they'll look at all of their intelligence databases to see if he had any connection to any kind of organized group. although there's no indication of that. sounds like from what we know now, he was just an individualized criminal who shot his girlfriend and then took up this cause in his own mind. but they'll certainly check the databases, criminal activity, organized link. for sure, atf will trace the firearms.

did he steal it, did somebody supply it to him? based on his background, was he prohibited from having a firearm? he violated the firearms law after shooting his girlfriend and crossed state lines with the intent to murder. that's a federal crime in itself. he'll be trying to help the nypd piece it together. if he's a lone actor, there's not going to be much they're able to do except some lessons learned in the future like commissioner said, to be able to expedite the photograph of the person to all the officers. and i think this is a place where, really, in his whole discussion, we can leverage technology to help police and to help citizens keep us all safe. the great minds of america in technology can help us do these things as well. >> but in that sense, also, this technology is bringing in a new platform for these, for maniacs, as you described just like this. this is somebody who posted on instagram in his posting, they

take one of ours. let's take two of theirs. you know what, stand by there, jim. wnbc reporter mark santio. what can you tell us about what the police commissioner and the mayor shared with all of us, especially since they met face to face with the families of these officers? >> heavy press conference. very somber. there were more police officers in the auditorium of the hospital than there were members of the media. everyone was glued listening to the commissioner and the mayor. the mayor talked about the difficulty, meeting with both families. one of the officers recently married and the other officer married with a 13-year-old son and a 13-year-old who couldn't process what happened today. today, he said good-bye to his father. now to plan his father's funeral. the mayor and commissioner several times, the commissioners

voice cracked. you could tell he was personally affected by this, but they both described this as an ambush, quote, assassination. and the commissioner bratton said they're trying to make sense of what happened. several interviews taking place in the neighborhood right now. they said both officers were just sitting, very important to note, they were sitting in a marked police car. they were in uniform. everybody in that neighborhood knew they were police officers. he said the suspect walked up to the side, took a shooting stance at the passenger window and fired several shots into the vehicle. neither police officer had a chance to defend themselves. neither police officer had a chance to take cover, draw their weapon. it was, as the commissioner said, an ambush and assassination. and they both spoke a little bit about that. baltimore came up. talking about, injured his girlfriend. there was an incident down there. the mother of the suspect became aware, alerted police about the

inflammatory messages on social media that her son had made. but the commissioner and mayor talking, there was just no way to know. he just walked up to this marked police car and fired several shots right through the window on the passenger side. then took off running, giving chase. other officers took chase and went into a subway station where he took his own life. but again, a very somber, somber mood inside the hospital auditorium. there are police officers on every corner around the hospital here in brooklyn directing traffic. it is very difficult to get access into the hospital right now. many people being turned away, they have to show id and credentials as police continue this investigation right now. but again, a very, even my 17 years in covering several police officers murders, i've not seen one like this. it's just very tense inside there.

it's very somber and with all the protests in the last couple of weeks here in the city, this is a very difficult time. i should also mention that the police unions are holding a press conference in a few minutes outside the hospital in response to the mayor and commissioner's press conference. but the police officer's union will be holding a press conference shortly here. >> it has got to be so tough for the nypd. especially given they certainly have not forgotten the last shooting death of a police officer in december of 2011. peter forgoski, a 21 year veteran. in brooklyn, shot in the face by one of the suspects there. i'm sure that is something many of the members there that you're seeing the police department carrying. tell me about what we piece together about the gunman. insmale brinsly. the shooting of his exgirlfriend

where he seriously injured her in baltimore. but the police commissioner spoke about his latest residence being atlanta, georgia. and now this takes him to atlanta georgia, his girlfriend in baltimore and the trip in brooklyn where he took out these heinous brazen attacks too. what do we know? >> the commissioner said, this is very fluid right now and they're still looking at several things, social media, they'll be looking at obviously credit cards. they'll try to establish a timeline as well as to look at where he's been and what brought him, as you said, from georgia to baltimore and here in brooklyn. the commissioner did say he had some ties to the city here, but didn't really elaborate. they're still going through that. and to sort of go back, you're talking about the most recent shooting in 2011. i think what you're seeing here with so many officers is they're stunned because, you know, a police call, a response comes out. officers respond, obviously,

some of the most dangerous are domestic violence calls or traffic stop or folks say it's a routine traffic stop. you talk to any police officer, there is nothing routine about a traffic stop. but in this case, these officers weren't responding to anything. they were just sitting in their vehicle. they were sitting in their car and this 28-year-old walked up, took a firing stance and unloaded his weapon on them and i think that's what -- you look at these officers and you can see on their face, they're stunned. this was not a response to a robbery. this was not a response call to a domestic violence situation. this was just two officers sitting in their vehicle. >> right. >> they weren't responding. they were just sitting on the side of the road. so again, as they try to process that, they're also building an investigation and just trying to learn the steps of this 28-year-old. how he got here. what led him here. the commissioner mentioned his last place of residence was georgia and then he was noun

obviously to be in the baltimore, maryland, area. injured his girlfriend and then ended up here. but they're trying to piece that puzzle together. what led him here, his steps before arriving here and that's what detectives are doing right now. >> even more chilling with the instagram posts where he said they take one of ours, let's take two of theirs. mark santio, wnbc. thank you for filling us in. >> thank you. >> bringing a former member of the nypd. edward, are you with us? >> yes, i am. >> fill us in on your take when you heard about this and the information we're finding out after the mayor and the police commissioner spoke. >> well, i was allowed in the basement 20 years in the new york city police department. most of my career was in the detective bureau. when i was a young sergeant in the '70s, i could recall vividly the assassinationed by the black liberation army. at least six police officers

killed just before because they were police officers. you had jones, foster and laurie, i can't recall the other two. and those people that committed it, most of them were shot and killed by police officers in confrontations where they try to take out the officers and those who weren't killed went to jail. this is deja vu for me. the last time i can recall an assassination like this, eddie burn in 1988, he was sitting in a police car guarding a material witness, the drug deals went up and shot him 6 times in the head. so i can recall that it's just very tragic. >> very, very tragic. also, the mayor made it clear that right now, it's not a time for analysis on the next step of what needs to be done. it's about the families. it's about the families who are

now going, who should be celebrating the holidays will be mourning and burying their father, their husband. and it is about them. and also, other fellow members of the nypd who feel this just as well, especially as they begin their days or nights on duty. >> yeah, i can tell you, get an e-mail or phone calls from former colleagues of mine. they're very upset and very angry. and the unions are now getting involved. this comes at a very critical time. you know what's going on with the antipolice protests. and so it's all coming together in a strange way. i just hope that this is not a return to the black liberation army days where there was an organized conspiracy to kill police officers. if the guy that did the shooting

was a lone wolf crazy, that's one thing. but if he was part of a larger group, i think this nation is in for a lot of problems. >> the mayor said, we must come together for families and for healing. they do believe that he acted alone. that this was not an act of terrorism. but again, so much for the new york police department, their families and police departments across the country now to take in and assess and heal moving forward from this incident. just joining us here on msnbc covering breaking news after two new york city police officers were shot and killed execution style in the bedford neighborhood of brooklyn by a gunman who then fled into a nearby subway station, shot himself in the head. subsequently killing himself there in that subway station and those two police officers are identified as rafael.

his hatred for police posting on social media that he intended to take two of theirs. i want to keep it right here on msnbc for more continuing coverage of this breaking news. i'm francis rivera. for now, take a quick break and continue our coverage throughout the evening. is a really big deal.u with aches, fever and chills- there's no such thing as a little flu.

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officer liu and officer ramos never had the opportunity to draw their weapons. they may have never actually seen their assailant, their murder. >> now, there's new york police commissioner bill bratton speaking about the killing of two new york city police officers who are now dead. killed in that ambush style attack in brooklyn, bedford. sitting in their armed vehicle, their cruiser in full uniform when a gunman approached them in

the window and police officer describing them never able to defend themselves, never able to draw their weapons and possibly never saw the gunmen. two police officers are rafael ramos and winjoen lui. more information about the gunman, the possible motives, especially with extreme antipolice sentiments he made clear on his postings on instagram. we understand he has ties to east flat bush but before travelering to brooklyn, he was in a shooting that seriously injured his exgirlfriend in baltimore, maryland. and after that posting on instagram, take two of theirs and traveling to brooklyn for this attack. police officers believe, also, that was wanted in baltimore and

those local authorities sent a flyer to authorities in new york city warning them. but just as the warnings were coming in, the killings were taking place here. we have just received a statement from new york governor andrew cuomo about this killing here and he says tonight the thoughts and prayers of all new yorkers are with family and friends of new york city police officers, wenjian lui and rafael ramos. it's the opposite of what new yorkers believe in. with the men and women, put their lives on the line every day to keep communities safe. their instincts to run away and come together to mourn the loss of these brave souls. earlier in the last hour, the police commissioner of new york city, two men were assassinated, targeted for their uniform and the responsibility to keep people safe. and the mayor also saying that

the city of new york is in mourning with this despicable act. it tears at the foundation of society. it is an attack on all of us, an entire city attacked by heinous individuals. of course, what comes to mind here is the recent tensions between protesters and police departments there, especially with the protests against police brutality and anti-police protests following the grand juries in new york city and ferguson, missouri, not indicting the police officers there in the shooting deaths of darren wilson and that choke hold captured on video of eric garner. so, again, this is the breaking news we are following this evening on msnbc. video you're seeing there is the hospital where that press conference took place. woodhull hospitals, two police officers taken after that shooting and they were declared dead. heartbroken new york city police

department and heartbroken families. five days leading up to christmas. we know more about these police officers, rafael ramos celebrated his 40th birthday. leaves behind a wife and 13-year-old son. the family the commissioner and the mayor met with face to face and said this 13-year-old son of rafael ramos couldn't comprehend what was happening. couldn't comprehend that he had lost his father. and also, wenjian liu, just married, coming from the 84th precinct working together. again, many questions that remain, especially with this shooter who shot these two officers execution style and then fled into a subway station there with many people inside who witnessed this at 3:00 in the afternoon, approximately. went inside the subway station on to the platform, shot himself in the head killing him. so that is the information. many questions still left, but

the police commissioner and the mayor said that this is the time for the family, this is the time for them to grieve their loss and to be supportive to them and to also be supportive to the new york city police department as well. also, this comes to mind too. the tensions that have been going on between protests and also, especially with police being criticized in new york city. the tactics following the choke hold death of eric garner who was stopped for selling illegal cigarettes, untaxed cigarettes and the grand jury decision on not to indict the officer in garner's death despite the video there that showed that tactic and also him, garner, gasping, i can't breathe. and then also, the tensions out of ferguson, missouri, as well, for the grand jury not indicting

darren wilson in the shooting death of unarmed teen, michael brown. i want to bring in jim cavanaugh, msnbc analyst and former atf agent. a little bit more about this and what the mayor called despicable acts here. what is it down the road, even though the mayor made it clear this is a time for mourning, a time for the families, how is it that police departments across the board can continue to protect themselves? is there any changes other than partnering up? they talked about equipping them with smartphones. what else can be done? >> i think, for instance, the police chiefs and sheriffs and commanders across the country will be looking back now with their detectives to see, do they have any open cases where people have threatened officers recently? certainly, they'll be looking at those pretty tight. he discussed maybe two officer vehicles are necessary sometimes, depending what the

threat is that they receive specific threats in their city or there's been specific activity. it goes back to the violence that people engage in violence around any kind of a national controversy or national event or take some type of issues that come up in a democracy and think they can go out and commit violence and kill behind it. but you know, the bravery of all police comes to mind that they go through these things and constantly go back out each and every night. you heard the retired nypd captain talked about the assassinations over the years, but the officers come out to patrol every day and every night after all of these events, after all those years and they'll be patrolling tonight and across the country. and we can't forget that as citizens. we've got to remember what officers have to face. they have to face the most dangerous people. and, you know, when you're an officer, especially when you're out on uniform duty, you have

constant contact with the public. and if you're in your cruiser, people are always coming up to you in your car. some are talking to you, very nice, some give you cookies, some give you information, some might want to harm you. it's the nature of policing that everybody knows who you are. so you are someone in the community, in the neighborhood, and you engage and talk to people constantly. so the danger cannot be eliminated of interacting and talking with people as a uniformed officer on patrol anywhere in america. >> adding to this tragedy were the warnings that were coming in, that the mayor and police commissioner said that may have been as the warnings were coming in, the attacks and killings were taking place and talk about the warning flyer from local authorities in baltimore after the shooting of his ex-girlfriend and sending that along with the instagram, the social media postings as well. >> right. it sounds like the family of the girl who was shot in baltimore,

his ex-girlfriend, and the mom and the baltimore detectives, all gathered that information to the police department. it got there two minutes, 2:45. they were shot at 2:47, two minutes later. so there wasn't time to get that information to all the officers. maybe it could have made a difference. but like the commissioner said, the two officers probably never even knew the guy was there. if he walked up to the side of the cruiser and just shot them cold-bloodedly right at point-blank range, whether or not they would have had time, even in that short time to do it or to break the leather on their guns to be able to engage it, it doesn't even look like they had a chance. so cold-blooded. >> so tragic. >> he went to the subway, he tried to escape.

>> stand by a moment. we need to take a quick break but hope to continue our conversation right on the other side. keep it right here on msnbc as we continue our coverage. this is humira helping to relieve my pain and protect my joints from further damage. this is humira giving me new perspective. doctors have been prescribing humira for ten years. humira works for many adults. it targets and helps to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to ra symptoms. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. talk to your doctor and visit humira.com

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the details, it's clear that this was an assassination. that these officers were shot execution-style, particularly despicable act which goes at the very heart of our society. new york city mayor bill de bl blasio said this is an attack on all of us. the scene in the brooklyn neighborhood, bedford-stuyvesant where this shooting and killing took place of two police officers. we know they're rafael ramos and

wenjian liu. the 28-year-old gunman, ishmael brinzly who shot them execution style while they were in uniform 3:00 in the afternoon there in the streets of brooklyn and then ran to a nearby subway. he went to the platform there, drew a gun, shot himself in the head. i want to go back to jim cavanaugh. you still there? >> yes, here francis. >> this is unchartered territory when it comes to people who are wanting to make these kind of attacks and in some sense, they have their audience whether they have 50 followers, 500 followers. it seems to be their platform where he said, two police

officers dead. something that warning sign that was there, obviously it was a little bit too late but it seems to me that this is a new platform for them to say, hey, this is my intention and this is what i want to do. >> well, it's true, you're right about that. the web gives them a platform but going back in history, each advance in technology whether it was the motor vehicle, which became then used by criminals and bank robberies and you know, in the 30s and the violence with the dillinger days or the telephones that was used by criminals or criminals used to write threatening letters and mail them post notes and mail them to someone. and now they use the internet. so it's not new that criminals behave with all the latest tools of society, cars, phones, computers. so we can't indict technology. i know you're not doing that, you're just pointing out how quickly they can get their word

out and that's what they did do, what he did do here. we find the person posts and then commits the deed and everybody is there for them to find it like it's on a giant worldwide bulletin board. but i think i have to be careful about buying into too much why people do these things. this guy cannot justify any violence for any reason against the police officers and, you know, just like a terrorist, we've got to be careful we don't buy into their complaint, if you will. >> sure. >> why this is so bad on the nypd and i think you talked about the heartbreaking nature of it before, whenever a police officer is killed, it tears the department apart. but two police officers, it is

devastating. and then when you add in the assassination aspect of it, it compound it even more. now, we saw in las vegas when we had two las vegas officers killed by any government zealots who shot while they were eating lunch. and two years ago, sovereign, killed two west memphis officers. we can go down the line from pennsylvania or multiple officers being killed. it's the cold-blooded nature of it. that multiple officers, the assassination of it, the whole country, i think is behind the nypd of we're with you. we understand. i think that's the feeling in america. >> you also have the social tension that came with it too,

in the wake of all these protests we've seen across the country. these die-ins that we've been seeing and in many cases, you hear some chanting of people calling on harm. did he play an attack against police officers and you hear and see people calling for that. >> right. that's absolutely reprehensible when people call or chant to harm an officer. that is insightful in my view. it turns from the peaceful legitimate protest. it wouldn't be condemned by the likes of dr. king who was not that kind of person or nelson mandela type who wanted peace, wanted to reconcile. that we should learn from those leaders to get the dialogue to reconcile and make us better together. anyone who chants or promises violence or puts it on the internet or spouses it in their neighborhood against authorities should be condemned and not only against the police but anyone in

the criminal justice system. i've always thought, francis, if i was a judge, if someone came before me, they assaulted a policeman, assaulted a district attorney, tried to kill a witness, assaulted a judge, i would always throw the book at them because those are the people that are trying to break the society when you attack a witness or a d.a. or policeman or a judge. they're trying to attack the society as a whole, as the mayor said. so important that we are so strong on getting people bent on violence against our system, even with all its flaws. we don't have a perfect system. humans aren't perfect. >> called it an attack on an entire city, tears the foundation of our society. keep it right here. we'll have continuing coverage on msnbc. we'll be right back.

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another innovation now that's progressive. [ high-pitched ] nailed it! learning the details, it's clear that this was an assassination.

these officers were shot execution-style, a despicable act that goes against the heart of our society and democracy when a police officer is murdered, it tears at the foundation of our society. it is an attack on all of us. it's an attack on everything we hold dear. we depend on our police. we expect to enforce against criminalities and evil. they are a foundation of our society and when they're attacked, it is an attack on the concept of decency. >> rough press conference for the mayor of new york city after the shooting deaths of two of their own. the police officers there. even more difficult for the families of those two police

officers. rafael ramos and wenjian liu after the gunman approached them while they were in the streets of brooklyn, bedford-stuyvesant, as we take a live look at that neighborhood there. went up to the passenger side window there and fired at the two officers' head. and then fleeing, shooting and killing himself inside a nearby subway station. we are hearing more about this gunman, 28-year-old ishmael brinsley and while there's no clear motive, we understand that he had extreme antipolice sentiments there. made that known in postings on social media, on his instagram post, where he posted a picture of the weapon that's believed to be used in this shooting. also, donsaying i'm going to sh two pig in retaliation of eric garner. they take one of ours, i'll take

two of theirs. put wings on pigs. we understand from police he traveled from new york city, brooklyn, to baltimore, maryland, where police believe he shot and seriously injured his ex-girlfriend and then traveled to brooklyn to carry out these attacks. again, a live look at that street there in brooklyn. surrounded by many of the police officers, members of the nypd. it's a very difficult day for them as they learn they have lost two of their own. a very difficult time for them and the family, five days before celebrating christmas. i want to bring in, also, jim cavanaugh who's been with us for our coverage tonight. former atf agent and msnbc analyst. jim, i can't imagine what that was like for police commissioner and mayor de blasio to share their condolences after their loss. >> that had to be heartbreaking

for the families, commissioner and the mayor as well. all the ranking officials of the nypd. it's a heartbreaking event because it's a senseless event. officers can understand going into a robbery and getting shot or even domestic violence situation or any kind of a violent crime. that's part of pinning on the badge. i may get involved in the shooting incidents, high crime incidents, car chases. but just to be ambushed and killed in the radio car, you know, is so beyond the comprehension of most officers to think about that there's a risk for this. it smacks you in the face of the senseless brutality. not only the families coping with the unbelievable loss but with the unbelievable senselessness of this thing.

it's just making the pain that much deeper. >> the commissioner said quite simply they were assassinated, targeted for their uniform and the responsibility to keep people safe. it makes it even more senseless. and when you hear that these officers never had a chance to defend themselves. never had a chance to draw their weapon and these words used in the instagram post that i am going to be shooting two pigs, referring to the police officers. i'm going to be putting wings on pigs today. >> it's unbelievable. he's a coward. he can't be described more accurately as the ultimate coward, the ultimate despicable cowardly act and i hope his name goes down in dust and nobody remembers it and remembers these two officers for their service. because this guy is just really a guy bent on a senseless act of

violence with a maniac. he goes to the subway and tries to get away. he's cornered by the other patrol officers who get there and then he takes his own life. . the senselessness and brutality of it. we stare at it. >> all right, jim. stand by here as we update you here at the top of the hour on msnbc. i'm frances rivera. the breaking news we follow out of new york city. two new york city police officers killed in an ambush style attack in brooklyn. the two officers, rafael ramos and wenjian liu sitting in the patrol car in the bedford-stuyvesant area of brooklyn with open fire on them. the gunman is ishmael brinsley, who is the man who held the gun, pulled the trigger on these two. police say he ran and shot himself in the head, killed himself there.