Today in History: The Tragic Shooting of Officers Rafael Ramos and Wen Jian Liu Near Williamsburg

By Williamsburg 365 Staff

On December 20, 2014, a tragic event unfolded in the Williamsburg neighborhood. Police Officers Rafael Ramos and Wen Jian Liu were killed in cold blood while sitting in their patrol car at the corner of Myrtle and Thompkins Avenues. This heinous act sent shockwaves throughout the city and beyond, as it marked a moment of profound loss for the NYPD and the community.

Officers Ramos and Liu were carrying out their routine patrol duties when a 28-year-old gunman, traveling from Baltimore with the intention of targeting police, approached their car and opened fire. The attack was deliberate, premeditated, and chillingly random, as the officers had done nothing but sit in their vehicle. The assailant, whose violent act came during a time of heightened tensions both locally and internationally, later took his own life.

Rafael Ramos, 40, had joined the NYPD just two years earlier, after serving as a school safety agent. Wenjian Liu, 32, was the only child of Chinese immigrants and had served with the NYPD for seven years. Just two months before his death, Liu had married his wife. Both officers were posthumously promoted to Detective First Grade, and their memory continues to be honored in various ways.

A year after their deaths, plaques were unveiled in their honor at the 84th Precinct, and streets in Brooklyn were renamed in tribute to the fallen officers. West 6th Street and Avenue “T” in Gravesend were named after Det. Wenjian Liu, while Ridgewood Avenue and Shepherd Avenue were renamed in honor of Det. Rafael Ramos. Foundations were established in their memory, and the Slain Officer Family Support Act was signed into law to provide federal tax relief to the families of fallen officers.

It has been ten years since the tragic killings of Officers Ramos and Liu, and their impact continues to resonate. Their deaths were felt deeply in Williamsburg and across New York City, particularly in communities that have long worked closely with law enforcement to ensure safety and justice. The names of Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu are now part of the city’s history, and their story remains a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers every day in service to their communities.