Groom Shot & Killed By Police On Wedding Day

[milliondollarchamp 0]

NEW YORK (Nov. 26) - Sean Bell and his fiancee had already shared a high school romance, then two children. In the early hours of what was to be their wedding day, the reception hall lay waiting, covered in satin and adorned with balloons. But the ceremony never occurred Saturday. Police shot 50 rounds at the groom's car as he drove away from his bachelor party, killing the 23-year-old hours before he was to walk down the aisle.

 

The hail of gunfire at a car full of unarmed men drew an outcry from family members and community leaders. Two passengers, who had been celebrating with the groom at a strip club, were also injured; one was struck by at least 11 bullets.

 

The officers' shots struck the men's car 21 times after it rammed into an undercover officer and hit an unmarked NYPD minivan, police said. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said it was too early to say whether the shooting was justified.

 

The gunfire also sprayed nearby homes and a train station, though no residents were injured.

 

Police thought one of the men in the car might have had a gun, but investigators found no weapons. It was unclear what prompted police to open fire, Kelly said.

 

He said the incident stemmed from an undercover operation inside the strip club in Queens. Seven officers in plain clothes were investigating the Kalua Cabaret; five of them were involved in the shooting.

 

According to Kelly, the groom was involved in a verbal dispute outside the club after 4 a.m. One of his friends made a reference to a gun.

 

An undercover officer walked closely behind Bell and his friends as they headed for their car. As he walked toward the front of the vehicle, they drove forward -- striking him and a nearby undercover police vehicle.

 

The officer who had followed the group on foot was apparently the first to open fire, Kelly said. That officer had served on the force for five years. One 12-year veteran fired his weapon 31 times, emptying two full magazines, Kelly said.

 

It was the first time any of the officers, all of whom carried 9 mm handguns, had been involved in a shooting, he said.

 

At some point, Bell backed his car up onto the sidewalk, hitting a building gate. He then drove forward, striking the police vehicle a second time, Kelly said.

 

It was unclear whether the shooters had identified themselves as police, said Kelly, whose account was based on statements made by witnesses and the two officers who did not shoot their weapons. Police could not question the other officers because the district attorney must first complete an investigation, he said.

 

The groom was driving. Joseph Guzman, 31, was in the front passenger's seat and was shot at least 11 times. Trent Benefield, 23, who was in the back seat, was hit three times. Both men were taken to Mary Immaculate Hospital, where Guzman was listed in critical condition and Benefield was in stable condition.

 

Kelly said there may have been a fourth person in the car who fled the scene.

 

Three officers, including the officer hit by the car, were treated and released. Another detective remained hospitalized for hypertension, Kelly said.

 

Abraham Kamara, 38, who lives a few blocks from where the shooting occurred, said he was getting ready for work around 4 a.m. when he heard bursts of gunfire.

 

"First it was like four shots," he said. "And then it was like pop-pop-pop like 12 times."

 

Kelly said undercover officers were inside the club to document illicit activity. With one more violation the club would be shut down, he said.

 

He said the establishment has a "chronic history of narcotics, prostitution and weapons complaints."

 

The shooting drew angry protests from family members and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

 

Sharpton went to Jamaica Hospital, where Bell was pronounced dead, and Mary Immaculate Hospital on Saturday and held news conferences afterward. At Jamaica Hospital, the civil rights advocate stood with about two dozen members of the families of Bell and his fiancee.

 

"I will stand with this family," he said. "This stinks. Something about the story being told did not seem right."

 

Sharpton said Bell and his fiancee had two children, a 3-year-old and a 5-month-old.

 

After meeting with the two wounded men at Mary Immaculate, Sharpton said he was outraged to find the pair handcuffed to their hospital beds. The two were unshackled later Saturday and have not been charged with a crime.

 

"We're not anti-police ... we're anti-police brutality," Sharpton said.

 

Robert Porter, who identified himself as Bell's first cousin, said he was supposed to be a DJ at the wedding. He said about 250 people were invited to the ceremony and were flying in from all over the country. He said his cousin wasn't the type to confront police and that he was "on the straight-and-narrow."

 

"I can't really express myself. It's a numb feeling," Porter said. "I still don't want to believe it, a beautiful day like this, and he was going to have a beautiful wedding, he was going to live forever with his wife and children. And this happened."

 

Talk about excessive force. 50 shots fired by the police and not a single shot fired by the people in the car.

[Sideburnious 0]

You know, if Jamacia hospital and Rev. Al Sharpton weren't included, you knew the groom was black. If it was a white dude the police probably would have understood.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Man, NYC fuzz have issues with the black man.

[CheesalaIsGood 0]

I wonder how they are going to ignore their way out of this one.

[snuffbox 0]

Dick Bloomberg said there was "reason to believe they might have had weapons of their own." He didnt elaborate any further.

[Scroby 0]

50 shots at a car driving away? 50 motherfucking shots! I call bullshit right there. The driver or anyone wasn't shooting at them, aren't police only allowed to return fire? 50 shots, man I can't believe that.

[Perfxion 0]

50 Shots into a car with no returning fire who were trying to FLEE from UNMARKED COPS shooting at them. This whole story is one huge fuck up by NYPD, again. The police in NYC needs one huge shot in the ass, pun not intended.

[EricMM 0]

Reason to believe they had weapons = they were of African descent ...

[Ginger Snaps 0]

According to Kelly, the groom was involved in a verbal dispute outside the club after 4 a.m. One of his friends made a reference to a gun.

 

They were hanging out in a club that had a reputation as a place where seedy people frequented. The article mentions weapons violations at the club before. What probably happened was some of the people at the party were problem drunk, and argued with each other outside, and they were probably doing that street bravado crap and somebody probably mentioned a gun, just trying to act like a tough guy, not really being serious. But the cop over heard it and then the police grossly overreacted. I think the cops probably had some reason to be a little suspicious but took thinks way too far.

[Sideburnious 0]

But still, usually cops shoot at the wheels so the car can't get away, they don't shoot at the car. These cops were way fucking out of line.

[SuperJerk 0]

Let's review:

-Group is partying at 4 am and gets into argument.

-Guy in group says he has a gun.

-Other guy hits a police officer with his car and drives off.

-Same car hits a police van TWICE and keeps driving.

 

While it is tragic that he lost his life, this man was not an innocent victim.

[snuffbox 0]

Yeah, if it would have been like 60 shots fired by the police then I could see the problem. But 50, whats the big deal? Am I right?

[SuperJerk 0]

I'm not going to get into an argument over how much force the police should have used, because I'm not an expert on police procedures.

 

However, people on this thread are completely ignoring what the guy did to provoke the police, and are suggesting that the police shouldn't have fired at all or that he was singled out because he was black. That's simply not the case.

[EricMM 0]

It's called drunk driving.

 

Not worth 50 bullets.

[SuperJerk 0]

Its called attempted murder of a police officer.

[snuffbox 0]

How do you empty two magazines on suspicion that the other guy might possibly, maybe, have a gun? I expect this kind of thing from a drunk deer hunter in Wisco, but a 12 year veteran of the fraternal order of police?

[snuffbox 0]

Jerk, "unmarked police van".

[Ginger Snaps 0]

I sort of agree with Jerk. I think the police had reason to be suspicious of these people based on the circumstances. I don't think it was just "oh, a black guy, I sure hope he gives me a reason to shoot him". But they did really overreact. This is like Diallo over again.

[Sideburnious 0]

I dont think they were looking for a reason to shoot 50 bullets. What I'm saying is that if it was a white dude, and they found out that he was partying on his batchelor party, and clearly fucked up his getaway when he was scared, they probably would have let him off with a night in a drunk tank or a suspended sentence.

[SuperJerk 0]

I dont think they were looking for a reason to shoot 50 bullets. What I'm saying is that if it was a white dude, and they found out that he was partying on his batchelor party, and clearly fucked up his getaway when he was scared, they probably would have let him off with a night in a drunk tank or a suspended sentence.

 

He hit someone with his car, though. That's a serious offense no matter what color the person is.

 

Jerk, "unmarked police van".

Even if it wasn't a cop, because the guy had no way of knowing unless the police identified themselves, he still hit someone with his car, hit another vehicle twice, and drove off. That's still attempted murder. I'm not going to get into an argument over how much force the police should have used, but the guy definitely provoked the incident.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Let's review:

-Group is partying at 4 am and gets into argument.

-Guy in group says he has a gun.

-Other guy hits a police officer with his car and drives off.

-Same car hits a police van TWICE and keeps driving.

- White cops encounter group of rowdy negroes and instantly become nervous

 

While it is tragic that he lost his life, this man was not an innocent victim.

 

You missed a spot.

[SuperJerk 0]

Getting hit by a car would probably make me something besides nervous.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

You'd probably liable to cap you a darkie, no?

[SuperJerk 0]

You'd probably liable to cap you a darkie, no?

 

Is that English?

[CanadianChris 0]

I dont think they were looking for a reason to shoot 50 bullets. What I'm saying is that if it was a white dude, and they found out that he was partying on his batchelor party, and clearly fucked up his getaway when he was scared, they probably would have let him off with a night in a drunk tank or a suspended sentence.

 

He hit someone with his car, though. That's a serious offense no matter what color the person is.

 

Jerk, "unmarked police van".

Even if it wasn't a cop, because the guy had no way of knowing unless the police identified themselves, he still hit someone with his car, hit another vehicle twice, and drove off. That's still attempted murder. I'm not going to get into an argument over how much force the police should have used, but the guy definitely provoked the incident.

Come on. Murder requires intent, which, although not completely clear, was very likely missing in this case. At worst, it's something like attempted vehicular manslaughter, but it sounds like it would more likely be reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, or something like that.

[ZGangsta 0]

SuperJerk doesn't care about black people.

[Ripper 0]

So to be clear here Jerk, if you and your friends get into a argument at the club and try to leave and a guy with a gun follows you back to your car and stands in front of it, you are going to try to talk it out with mysterious guy with gun that followed you and NOT get the fuck out of there?

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

I'd like to know how fast they "rammed" the undercover cop. Did he get pulled under the car? Or was the dumbass drunkenly fucking around the parking lot, when he bumped a cop while moving 2 mph?

 

Shooting these guys is inexcusable either way, but I'd still like to know that.

[muzz 0]

I'd like to know if it was made known they were cops before the shooting.

 

I mean, you'd think it would be mentioned.

[Ripper 0]

I'd like to know how fast they "rammed" the undercover cop. Did he get pulled under the car? Or was the dumbass drunkenly fucking around the parking lot, when he bumped a cop while moving 2 mph?

 

Shooting these guys is inexcusable either way, but I'd still like to know that.

 

 

From the description it sounds like them trying to get out of there.

 

As he walked toward the front of the vehicle, they drove forward -- striking him and a nearby undercover police vehicle.

At some point, Bell backed his car up onto the sidewalk, hitting a building gate. He then drove forward, striking the police vehicle a second time, Kelly said.

 

In other words went forward, couldnt drive off, backed up and back forward to pull out.

 

 

To get away.

 

From the man that followed them from the club where they just had a argument.

 

Who had a gun.