Unarmed Groom, 23, Gunned Down In Hail Of NYPD Fire, Protests Ensue
The Thanksgiving weekend was horribly marred by what many are calling an act of extreme police brutality. What should have been a holiday leading up to a joyous marriage turned into a tragedy for a Queens, New York family.
At 4 a.m. Saturday, Sean Bell, 23, was shot and killed in a hail of over 50 police bullets, witnesses and the authorities said. The murder happened outside the Kalua Cabaret, a strip club where Bell’s bachelor party was held. Bell was to marry his highschool sweetheart, Nicole Paultre, 22, that same day.
Two other men who were with Bell were also injured. Joseph Guzman, 31, was shot at least 11 times, and Trent Benefield, 23, who was hit three times. Both men were later handcuffed to their hospital beds despite the fact none of the three men were armed.
A number of protests and press conferences have been scheduled in the wake of this tragedy. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called the incident “inexplicable.”
“Clearly they were victims, and at the moment, from what I know, there is no evidence whatsoever that they were doing anything wrong,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “Period.”
On Sunday Reverend Al Sharpton led a protest with a grief-stricken Paultre by his side, right outside the Mary Immaculate Hospital in Queens where the survivors struggled for their lives. Hundreds of angry mourners demanded justice, many counting to 50, the number of bullets that struck Bell.
Bell and Paultre have two daughters, 3 years old and 5 months old.
“We are here because this could have been us,” Sharpton said. “We’ve got to understand that all of us were in that car.”
Comment by Gus
This is an utter atrocity. It’s a reoccurring story that we’ve heard too many times. The reason why every six months a story like this breaks into the mainstream press, is that there is never any reprimand for the murderous agents of the NYPD. Diallo was the epitomic example. An innocent man shot dead in the Bronx and rather than sending the murderers to prison, the American “Justice” system returned the cops back to the force while arresting scores of protesters outside the Albany courthouse.
We cannot let that happen again. An acquittal of Sean Bell’s killers will not be acceptable. We have learned that the American Justice System only seeks to protect America’s elite and their property. If we, the populous want protection and justice we must execute it ourselves. We cannot stand by while the police continue to annihilate our community.
Comment by Lazaro Hidalgo
We should not rush to judgement and wait until the investigation is completed. We cannot change what happened that night and should keep a clear head and not allow opportunists such as Big Al to come and get media exposure off the backs of the Bell family.
Comment by Edenwald Projectz
Don’t let them LIE 2 us… we know who is wrong!
Comment by victor
Deeply ashamed of our justice system and fired up about this case. After years of hate crimes haven’t we learned yet? Peace to Nicole and her two children. Be strong.
Comment by Vay
Well dis whole situation shouldnt have even happened. People swear we dont have crooked police in the world but not only do we have alot we have many who are nasty. Now a bride is left without a groom and two children without a father all because of suspicion. We thought racism is gone but it never died in fact this is a perfect example. How do people think it feels to loose someone you want to spend the rest of your life with? Or to have to grow up without a father because of something that could have been prevented. What’s the point of 50 bullets to a human being? We send our condolenses to the family of Sean Bell an innocent life token for nothing (R.I.P Sean)
Comment by wykishia
A lot of people said that we don’t have these crooked ass cops but we do that man didn’t do anything wrong and I think that they all should got to jail for life and that the family should sue the hell out of these people because that just was so wrong for what they did you don’t just shoot and ask questions later ask questions first. Put all their ass in jail and just let them rot to death let all of there ass get punished cause when they come before God only one can judge them and they will get what is comming to them in the long run. racism is gone but it never died in fact this is a perfect example. These cops don’t care about us they just think that since they are wearing these little uniform that they can get away with any thing.
Comment by Alecia Nicole
I would just like Nicole to know that I am praying for you and yours. Only God and time can begin to heal these wounds. Be strong for your babies girl, they are your blessings.
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