Sean Bell news stories on Newser

NYC Pays $7M in Sean Bell Shooting Lawsuit

Jane Yager — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:44:25 CDT

New York City has agreed to dole out more than $7 million in damages to settle a lawsuit from the family and friends of Sean Bell, the unarmed black man gunned down by police officers right before his wedding in 2006. Of that, $3.25 million will go to the...

NYC Cops Oppose 'Shoot to Wound' Bill

Caroline Miller — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:44:02 CDT

New York City cops are outraged by a new “minimal force” bill that would demand they fire their weapons only “with the intent to stop, rather than kill” a suspect. The bill, inspired by Sean Bell's controversial death, mandates that officers aim for the suspect's arm or leg. “It's moronic,...

Groom-Slaying Cops Face Disciplinary Hearings

Kevin Spak — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:27:00 CDT

The New York cops who were acquitted last month after firing more than 50 bullets at an unarmed man on his wedding day will face police department disciplinary action, Reuters reports. Seven officers are on the hot seat, including the three who were cleared of criminal charges last month, and...

NYPD Arrests Sharpton, Bell's Fiancée at Protests

John Johnson — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:01:07 CDT

New York City police arrested the Rev. Al Sharpton and the fiancée and mother of Sean Bell today during protests over the April 25 acquittal of three officers who shot Bell to death in a 50-bullet barrage. Hundreds blocked traffic at the Brooklyn Bridge and other city hot spots, the...

Fiancée: 'They Killed Sean All Over Again'

Kevin Spak — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:37:47 CDT

Sean Bell’s fiancé spoke out today, condemning the court for acquitting the men who shot her husband. “The justice system let me down,” Nicole Paultre Bell said. “April 25, 2008: They killed Sean all over again.” In her first public comments since yesterday’s verdict, Paultre Bell vowed to fight for...

After Bell Shooting, NYPD Awaits Its Own Verdict

Wesley Oliver — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:39:49 CDT

A New York judge yesterday cleared the detectives who fatally shot Sean Bell, but the NYPD is awaiting its own verdict, after the case provoked charges of shoddy undercover police work. The shooting “revealed significant deficiencies in supervision, tactical planning, communications and management accountability,” said the Queens district attorney. The...

Sharpton: Bell Verdict 'Abortion of Justice'

Harry Kimball — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:12:34 CDT

Rev. Al Sharpton blasted today's acquittal of three NYPD officers who killed an unarmed man in a 50-slug fusillade in 2006, CNN reports. "Justice didn't miscarry," Sharpton said. "This was an abortion of justice. Justice was aborted." Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged citizens to respect the “authority” of the court; meanwhile,...

Cops Acquitted in NYC Groom Shooting

Kevin Spak — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:47:03 CDT

A judge today acquitted three detectives who killed an unarmed New York City man in a hail of 50 bullets hours before his wedding in November 2006, the New York Times reports. The judge cited problems with witnesses' testimony in the killing of Sean Bell and a lack of sufficient...