New York ( CNN ) -- Officer Rafael Ramos sat in the driver 's seat . Officer Wenjian Liu was at his side . The two cops were n't at their usual precinct -- normally , the pair was assigned to downtown Brooklyn , but they were working a `` critical response '' detail in an area with higher crime , police said . That 's where they were slain , ambush-style -- Saturday afternoon as they sat in their patrol car , New York Police Commissioner William Bratton said at an evening news conference . The gunman approached the passenger side of the patrol car and took a shooting stance , witnesses told police . He opened fire several times , striking both officers in the head , Bratton said . They were `` shot and killed with no warning , no provocation , '' Bratton told reporters . `` They were quite simply , assassinated . '' The gunman was found dead in a nearby subway station from a self-inflicted gunshot wound . The thin blue line . The families of the fallen officers rushed to Woodhull Medical Center on Saturday , as dozens of their comrades gathered in a show of support . Ramos had just turned 40 this month ; Liu got married two months ago . Both dreamed of being police officers , Bratton said . `` One of the unfortunate realities of policing is that you put that blue uniform on and you become part of the thin blue line between us and anarchy , '' Bratton said . Mayor Bill de Blasio and Bratton met with the families of the victims . De Blasio said that Ramos ' 13-year-old son could n't comprehend what had happened to his father . `` When a police officer is murdered , it tears at the foundation of our society , '' the mayor said . `` It is an attack on the very concept of decency . '' The suspect . Police identified the shooter as Ismaaiyl Brinsley . He arrived in New York from Baltimore , but had a residence in Atlanta . Bratton said that Brinsley was somehow connected to Brooklyn , but would not discuss that information . Bratton said at this time , there was no indication Brinsley was connected to any terrorist groups or organized entity . Police were investigating posts Brinsley allegedly made on social media . Bratton said that the suspect had earlier shot and seriously wounded a woman believed to be his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore . Baltimore police received information that Brinsley had made threatening comments about police , and sent a warning to police in New York , Bratton said . That message came almost the same time the ambush happened . U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called the attack `` an unspeakable act of barbarism . '' De Blasio also called the shootings an `` assassination . '' `` It is an attack on all of us , '' he said . `` It is an attack on everything we hold dear . '' A White House official says President Barack Obama was briefed on the shooting . `` This ca n't happen '' The shooting jolted residents in the neighborhood . `` This ca n't happen . If you mad at somebody , be mad at the person that you are mad at . Now , we have two families that ( are ) missing somebody for the holidays , '' Shaniqua Pervis told CNN affiliate WABC . `` Where is your humanity ? I know it 's a war going on and shoutout to Eric Garner 's family and everybody else who lost somebody , but you 're not at his house , on his lawn . This is two ( officers ) . You do n't even know if ( they were ) good or bad . I do n't condone this , and I 'm not with it . '' The woman was referring to the controversial July death of the unarmed black man after New York police officers on Staten Island wrestled him to the ground , with one of the officers wrapping his arm around Garner 's neck in a chokehold . A grand jury 's decision not to indict the police officer in the Garner case , as well as a separate grand jury 's refusal to indict an officer in a controversial police shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown in Ferguson , Missouri , led to nationwide protests against the police . Brown 's family condemned Saturday 's slayings . `` We reject any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement . It can not be tolerated . We must work together to bring peace to our communities , '' they said in a statement . `` Our thoughts and prayers go out to the officers ' families during this incredibly difficult time . '' In a statement , activist the Rev . Al Sharpton said the Garner family was outraged by news of the shootings . `` Any use of the names of Eric Garner and Michael Brown , in connection with any violence or killing of police , is reprehensible and against the pursuit of justice in both cases , '' the statement said . `` We have stressed at every rally and march that anyone engaged in any violence is an enemy to the pursuit of justice for Eric Garner and Michael Brown . '' Tensions between the community and police have heightened around the country since the deaths of Brown and Garner . `` This could not have come at a worse time , '' City Councilman Robert Cornegy told CNN affiliate PIX . So far , police have not commented on the motive for the Brooklyn shootings , except to say the officers were not engaging the shooter in any way when they were shot . CNN 's David Shortell , Mariano Castillo and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report .
Baltimore police reached out to police . Two NYPD officers , Wenjian Liu and Jose Ramos , were in pursuit . Police have identified Ismaaiyl ##i as shooter . Both officers shot ambush - style while sitting in a patrol car .