The police have been in the news a lot lately, but whatever one’s opinion of them, there is no justification for this. News outlets are reporting that two Brooklyn police officers have been shot dead in an execution style shooting. Some stories have reported that only one was killed, but both were evidently pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital. Here’s what the New York Post says:

According to preliminary reports, both officers were working overtime as part of an anti-terrorism drill when they were shot point-blank by a single gunman who approached their car at the corner of Myrtle and Tompkins avenues.

“It’s an execution,” one law enforcement source told The Post of the 3 p.m. shooting.

The gunman just started “pumping bullets” into the patrol car, another source said.

The suspected gunman fled to a nearby subway station at Myrtle and Willoughby avenues, where he was fatally shot. Preliminary reports were unclear on whether he was shot by police or his own hand.

“They engaged the guy and he did himself,” one investigator said.

There’s a lot more in that link than I quoted. The Post talks to people around where the shooting happened, and they were unsurprisingly terrified.

Here’s New York City’s ABC 7 News’ report on the subject:

As I said, the last few weeks have made it abundantly clear that there is a wide range of opinions on the police on the Right and across America, whether it’s police militarization, the frequency of police brutality, or issues of race and the police. However, an act like this is beyond the pale. There is no excuse for killing police officers like this. Let’s hope the professional outrage-mongers like Reverend Al Sharpton will be just as quick to condemn this senseless crime against society as they were to condemn the shooting of Michael Brown or the killing of Eric Garner.

Prayers are needed for all involved, but especially the families of the cops. Lord have mercy.

UPDATE: Take a look at these photos from the killer’s Instagram:

The cop killer also had the audacity to post on Instagram about his deeds:

Shooter bragged about plans to shoot innocent cops as revenge for Garner & Mike Brown. Why there's #NoJusticeNoPeace pic.twitter.com/whySDWbpfy

— C (@chelsea_elisa) December 20, 2014

From the picture of the gun: “I’m putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours…… Let’s take 2 of theirs.”

UPDATE 2: The suspect has been identified as Ishmael Brinsley (WARNING: the image in the tweet I linked is somewhat graphic). He is a black Muslim.

UPDATE 3: Brinsley evidently killed his girlfriend, too.

UPDATE 4: Predictably, there are plenty of folks celebrating the killing of these cops.