Sunday two Las Vegas police officers were shot and killed by a couple in a CiCi's Pizza restaurant by a two people who then reportedly shouted something about "the revolution" - according to various reports "tell the police the revolution has begun" or "this is a revolution" - before taking the cops' weapons and proceeding to enter a Wal-Mart store where they killed one more person then themselves. There are reports that a Gadsden flag, the yellow Revolutionary war symbol used to drape the body of the slain officers although details are still sketchy regarding this act of violence that perfectly serves the need for the US government to engage in a massive national crackdown to squash the growing knowledge that the entire system has gone rogue. It certainly is fortuitous timing given that the Obama administration was reviving the national domestic terror task force for the first time since it was closed down in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks as the brown-skinned devil Muslims were the official enemy.
That the two shooters, who reportedly committed suicide while at the Wal-Mart store have already been tabbed by the authorities and the media as being white supremacists so expect an Obama speech - whenever he can pull himself away from pushing for hostilities leading to a war on Russia - denouncing the attack which while a cowardly act by two individuals with apparent grievances will be used to paint any anti-government dissent with a broad brush. A crackdown on right-wing groups, particularly white supremacists will provide perfect cover for also going after other groups like anti-war activists, environmentalists, BDS advocates, anti-abortion groups and allow for the government goons to be fully prepared for that massive protest in New York City this fall to call for action on climate change. As former Obama Chief of Staff and now Chicago mayor once said "we never want a serious crisis to go to waste" and this is a perfect opportunity to beat back the revolt of the peasants against the corrupt, entrenched oligarchy and their war machine.
The story is still developing but this account from The Las Vegas Review-Journal probably is the best account as it is local and other than the references to the two being white supremacists and wanting to kill cops hasn't yet been run through the national media spin cycle:
Shooters in Metro ambush that left five dead spoke of white supremacy and a desire to kill police
Two Las Vegas police officers were killed Sunday in what appears to be a politically motivated ambush in a pizza restaurant that spilled over to a nearby Wal-Mart, where the two shooters committed suicide after killing a woman in the store.
Details are sketchy but Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sources close to the investigation say the shooters shouted that “this is the start of a revolution” before opening fire on the officers, and draped their bodies with cloth showing a Revolutionary War-era flag. Investigators have also found paraphernalia associated with white supremacists.
Sunday night Metro homicide investigators and FBI agents cordoned off and were searching a small apartment complex at 110 S. Bruce St., about four miles from the shooting scene. A resident of the complex said he had spoken with a man who lived in the apartment being searched. He said the man appeared “militant,” and often talked about conspiracy theories.
Sheriff Doug Gillespie said officers Alyn Beck, 41, and Igor Soldo, 31 were shot while they ate lunch at a CiCi’s Pizza, 309 N. Nellis Boulevard, at about 11:20 a.m. Sunday. In a late afternoon news conference he said no motive for the attack has been determined.
“It’s a tragic day,” the sheriff said. “We have lost two officers with young families.”
Beck was a senior patrol officer who had taught Advanced Officer Skills Training and at the Metro academy. He was hired by Metro in 2001 and had a wife and three children.
Soldo has been a Metro officer since 2006 and had a wife and baby. Both were uniform patrol officers assigned to the Northeast Area Command.
A law enforcement official who has been briefed on the incident said an officer — unconfirmed reports indicate it was Soldo — was refilling a soft-drink when the female shooter approached him from behind and shot him in the head, killing him instantly.
The woman then shot the other officer several times as he drew his pistol. Gillespie said the officer was able to return fire but it was unclear if he hit anyone.
One officer was reported dead at the scene, while the other died later in surgery at University Medical Center.
Witnesses told police one of the shooters yelled “This is the start of a revolution” before shooting the officers. Gillespie later said he could not confirm that.
The shooters then stripped the officers of their weapons and ammunition and badges, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation. They then covered the officers with something that featured the Gadsden flag, a yellow banner with a coiled snake above the words, “Don’t tread on Me.”
The flag is named for Christopher Gadsden a Revolutionary War general who designed it. It has recently come back in vogue as an adopted symbol of the American tea party movement.
The shooters left the pizza parlor and headed into the Wal-Mart across the street at 201 North Nellis. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing shots fired in quick succession inside the Wal-Mart.
At a news conference at about 1 p.m. Assistant Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the male shooter, described as a tall white man, yelled “everyone get out” before shooting.
One unconfirmed report is that the two exchanged gunfire with a citizen who was carrying a concealed weapon, and that one of the shooters was injured.
A woman was shot and killed just inside the front doors of the Wal-Mart. Her name has not yet been released.
As Metro officers entered the front and back doors of the store they exchanged gunfire with the shooters, Gillespie said.
The female shooter then shot her accomplice at least once before shooting herself in the head, a law enforcement official said. The wounded man then shot and killed himself. Their identities have not been released by police.
Both shooters were reportedly carrying large duffle bags, and a bomb squad was called to the scene. It’s unclear what, if anything, was found in the bags. A fire department official said the bomb squad response was “a precaution.”
“We will not comment on specifics at this time,” FBI spokeswoman Bridget Pappas said of her agency’s involvement in the investigation. “The FBI is working closely with LVMPD and our law enforcement partners to determine the facts of this tragic incident.”
The shooters were a married couple thought to be in their late 20s who were new to the Las Vegas Valley, according to a law enforcement official close to the investigation. Police are looking into their links to the white supremacy movement and found swastika symbols during their initial investigation.
Residents of the Bruce Street apartment complex gathered outside the building to talk about the couple whose unit was being searched.
Neighbor Krista Koch described them as “militant.” They talked about planning to kill police officers, “going underground” and not coming out until the time was right to kill.
Brandon Monroe, 22, has lived in the complex for about two weeks. He said the man who lived in the apartment that was being searched often rambled about conspiracy theories. He often wore camouflage or dressed as Peter Pan as a Fremont Street Experience street performer. A woman lived with him, Monroe said, but he didn’t see her as often.
They were weird people, Monroe said, adding that he thought the couple used methamphetamines.
Neighbors did not know the couple’s names.
Las Vegas police have not said if they believe the attack was more than an isolated incident, but the department asked for any available off-duty officers to work Sunday afternoon. Patrol squads were doubling up so each officer would have a partner, sources said. Metro officers usually patrol solo, but Gillespie said they would continue to ride with partners in the coming days while the investigation continues.
Metro also asked all department members to shroud their badges with a diagonal black band, which is often done as a sign of respect for fallen officers.
“It’s a very, very difficult day,” Gillespie said, “but we still have a community to police, and we still have a community to protect.”
Marlene Buck works at the Denny’s on Nellis across from Wal-Mart. She said she was impressed with how quickly Metro responded.
“It took less than fifteen minutes,” she said.
As police patrol cars cordoned off the street, Buck said restaurant customers crowded against the windows and started to rush outside.
“I did everything I could to keep everyone inside,” she said, adding it looked like a war zone and making a machine-gun gesture with her hands.
Late into the afternoon dozens of bystanders were standing outside police tape, watching the investigation. Wal-Mart employees and shoppers cried and hugged before police took them to be interviewed in a nearby store. After talking with witnesses, officers took them to one of several buses waiting in the parking lot.
A grandmother who was shopping in Wal-Mart with her two teenage granddaughters said they crouched in a makeup aisle when they heard shots. She prayed out loud, but the girls asked her to keep quiet so the shooters wouldn’t find them. When they peeked around the aisle and couldn’t see the shooters, they ran out of the store.
Cici’s and Wal-Mart were closed while Metro investigated. CiCi’s Vice President of Operations Geoff Goodman expressed condolences on behalf of the chain.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and our hearts go out to the families and friends of the officers,” Goodman said in a statement. “CiCi’s is assisting police in any way we can.”
Metro had never before seen two officers killed in a single incident. Gillespie said Sunday was an “unprecedented day.”
Three Las Vegas police officers have died in separate on-duty incidents in recent years.
David Vanbuskirk, who died during a helicopter rescue at Mount Charleston, was the first Metro officer killed on-duty since 2009, a year when three officers died in traffic crashes and officer Trevor Nettleton was shot.
Nettleton had just finished his patrol shift when he was attacked in his garage by several would-be robbers, who were later charged with his murder. Although Nettleton had finished his patrol shift and was in street clothes, Metro classified his death as on-duty.
Sgt. Henry Prendes was shot and killed responding to a domestic violence call in 2007.
“We have been luckier than other police agencies,” a Metro officer who asked not to be identified said Sunday. “In a town like this, with the criminals and scumbags we’re dealing with every day, you’re always wondering when something is going to happen.”
The agency lists 18 other on-duty deaths in department history, including seven officers killed before the Las Vegas Police Department consolidated with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in 1973.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman called the attack “a senseless and cruel act killing three innocent people, two who dedicated their lives to protecting all of us in our community and one who was innocently going about her daily life. At UMC Trauma and thereafter with fellow officers, I saw their pain was evident and clear. Their resolve was greater than ever to serve our community with loyalty, dedication and to honor the memory of their two comrades and friends.”
Dozens of Metro patrol cars were parked around UMC on Sunday afternoon the North Las Vegas police Mobile Command Center also was stationed outside the hospital.
Goodman directed that all flags at city facilities be lowered to half-staff.
District Attorney Steve Wolfson went to the scene of the shooting, which he called senseless.
“It is a terrible, terrible day. This community is going to be rocked by this for some time,” Wolfson said.
Gov. Brian Sandoval late Sunday issued the following statement about the attack:
“I am devastated by the news today of two officers and an innocent bystander who were murdered in an act of senseless violence. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. I am receiving regular updates with regard to this tragedy and local and state law enforcement are assisting at the scene.”
Gillespie said he had spoken with the families of the fallen officers.
“Of course, they’re devastated,” Gillespie said. “At a moment’s notice they’ve lost their loved one. But we will be very close by and we will work very closely with them as we move forward through the grieving process.”
This is a developing story. Check back for details.
This could finally be the pretense that the US government needs to have the NSA begin to start generating the pickup lists and for the black vans to start rolling. As the LVRJ story advises "This is a developing story. Check back for details" of which there will be many once Washington has adapted this brutal act of violence to suit the agendas of the power structure.
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