An unarmed man has been shot dead by police in New York City hours before he was to have been married, prompting fury over the officers' actions.

Two of the man's friends were hurt in the shooting, which occurred outside a strip club where they had been celebrating before the wedding.

 

Police fired 50 bullets at a car carrying the men after it reportedly struck an unmarked police vehicle.

 

New York's mayor says police had acted fearing an armed "altercation".

 

"Officers on the scene had reason to believe that an altercation involving a firearm was about to happen and were trying to stop it," Michael Bloomberg said.

 

The club was under surveillance because of its long history of weapons complaints, drug-dealing and prostitution, New York's Police Chief Raymond Kelly said.

 

Civil rights activist Al Sharpton has demanded the police explain its actions.

 

"Gunshots all over the place. This is outrageous at best," he said.

 

He also criticised the police for handcuffing the two men receiving emergency care for their injuries in hospital.

 

Denise Ford, the mother of one of the men hurt in the shooting, is quoted as saying her son was shot in the hand, right leg and buttocks.

 

"I think this is messed-up on the cops' behalf," Ms Ford told New York newspaper Newsday.

 

"They're too hotheaded and something needs to be done about it."

 

 

Police suspicions

 

A total of 21 bullets hit the car the men were in as they left the strip club, police said.

 

The driver, Sean Bell, was to be married later on Saturday. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

 

One of his passengers, Joseph Guzman was hit by at least 11 bullets and is in a critical condition in hospital.

 

The other passenger, Trent Benefield, was hit three times and is in a stable condition.

 

Police Chief Kelly said the three men were also being watched.

 

He said an undercover officer at the club had reported that the men were in a group that was involved in a dispute with another person outside the club.

 

The officer had reportedly called his colleagues saying he feared a gun would be produced.

 

As the men left the scene, a car they were driving struck an undercover officer on the shin.

 

It also hit an unmarked police vehicle, which is when five of the seven police officers on the scene opened fire, Mr Kelly said.

 

No weapons were found on the three men or in their car. An investigation is under way.

 

In 1999, New York police fired 41 bullets at unarmed Amadou Diallo, killing him. The four officers involved were acquitted of all charges.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6184948.stm

Bad Luck :\

Heads are going to roll for this. Im sure most the cops will be let go or face criminal charges if it was not an accident.

"New York City Cops, New York City Cops....."

 

 

Horrible event.

Oh dear..:o

i heard that on the news last night during an update and i was like "did they say cops?" totally unjustifiable actions, even if it wasn't on his wedding day. complete communication breakdown.

Heads are going to roll for this. Im sure most the cops will be let go or face criminal charges if it was not an accident.

 

 

the sad part is that I doubt anything will happen. Disgrace is what this is.....

the sad part is that I doubt anything will happen. Disgrace is what this is.....

 

 

Maybe not, i can see it being an accidents. However the fact they fired so many shots says otherwise. I'd be open to the possibility of them just messing up if they fired one or 2 shots but those men should have never been cops and never should be again.

their excuse is that they were on an undercover assignment.... turns out Queens Vice didn't even know Brooklyn Vice was on undercover assignment and this is what caused the so called 'confusion'...... so the guys were alledgedly drunk.... slammed into a cop car.. and the cops 'so called' panicked.... thats such bullshit. Somehow those bad cops will get away with it.... its like the Dialo case all over again......

Bad cops yes. but i doubt they shot them on purpose, they probably did panic

their excuse is that they were on an undercover assignment.... turns out Queens Vice didn't even know Brooklyn Vice was on undercover assignment and this is what caused the so called 'confusion'...... so the guys were alledgedly drunk.... slammed into a cop car.. and the cops 'so called' panicked.... thats such bullshit. Somehow those bad cops will get away with it.... its like the Dialo case all over again......

 

Wow!! Where on earth have you been??:stunned:

Bad cops yes. but i doubt they shot them on purpose' date=' they probably did panic[/quote']

 

 

hmmmm I doubt it........ 52 rounds???? Thats panic?? They never even identified themselves as cops.....

SO you think it's murder then?

hmmmm I doubt it........ 52 rounds???? Thats panic?? They never even identified themselves as cops.....

 

52 rounds is panic...otherwise they would have just shot a few nad made it look more realistic. For them to shoot that many shot's they are 1. Idiots. 2.bad cops. 3. panicked way too much.

 

It was an accident by morons with guns.

SO you think it's murder then?

 

I wouldnt doubt it...all white people are evil to her.

sadly.... yes, I do. Was it racial???? I don't know too much about the case to determine that...... but murder.... yea. Accidental as it may be... the guy was obviously at the wrong place at the wrong time... but, he was brutally killed, thats one thing I know for sure. :(

It wasnt murder, just a mess up by morons.

I wouldnt doubt it...all white people are evil to her.

 

shut the hell up...... and define white? Because according to the Census.... I'm Caucasian..... idiot.

shut the hell up...... and define white? Because according to the Census.... I'm Caucasian..... idiot.

 

Hey im not the one who hates white people.:\ dont get mad at me.

shut the hell up...... and define white? Because according to the Census.... I'm Caucasian..... idiot.

 

 

I don't get it..did he insult you??

I don't get it..did he insult you??

 

He does it all the time - he could probably make a living from it!!:rolleyes:

She hates being called what she truly is.

I don't get it..did he insult you??

 

 

 

no no no, dear.... not you.. :kiss: the little insipid boy we all know and dislike known as mrcool... :)

 

 

not you. ;)

 

 

Nick- your statement made no sense........ hence the insipid comment. :)

Yeah I agree it did not make sense at all

no no no, dear.... not you.. :kiss: the little insipid boy we all know and dislike known as mrcool... :)

 

 

not you. ;)

 

 

Nick- your statement made no sense........ :)

 

Nothing new there, then!:rolleyes: