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Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, is seen in an undated picture provided by the New York Police Department on Dec. 21, 2014. Reuters/NYPD Handout

Suspected gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley was arrested 19 times in three states before he allegedly executed two New York Police officers in Brooklyn, WABC, New York, reported Sunday. The 28-year-old claimed the deaths of his victims were revenge killings for Eric Garner and Michael Brown, two black men killed by white police officers.

Brinsley was arrested in Georgia for shoplifting, carrying a concealed weapon, robbery, obstruction of a law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct, WBAC said. In Ohio, he was detained for robbery and theft, and then in Brooklyn, where his family resides, he was arrested on various charges.

His mother reportedly had a "fear of him" and explained he had a troubled childhood, NBC News reported. She told authorities he might have a medical issue that wasn’t diagnosed and could have been on medication.

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The gun Ismaaiyl Brinsley reportedly used to kill two NYPD officers and then himself. Reuters

"The family is grieving and they're still trying to cope with what's happening. It was an estranged relationship,” a family friend told WBAC. They have been watching the news erupt on social media where Brinsley apparently took a picture of a gun and said he was going to kill two officers.

"Pretty much finding out about this whole thing on social media, which is horrible, so she's asking that everyone respect her privacy right now," the source said. "The family is grieving, and they're still trying to cope with what's happening. It was an estranged relationship."

“I'm Putting Wings On Pigs Today,” Brinsley wrote on Instagram with the username DontRunUp. “They Take 1 Of Ours... Let's Take 2 of Theirs #ShootThePolice #RIPErivGardner #RIPMikeBrown… This May Be My Final Post. I'm Putting Pigs In A Blanket.”

The families of Michael Brown and Eric Garner have condemned the killing of the NYPD officers and reiterated they asked for peaceful protests.

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