Groom Fatally Shot by Police Outside Strip Club

[Trossi3389]

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."

[cman]

but thank god Sharpton is there

wde

[KALIND]

Originally Posted by cman

but thank god Sharpton is there

wde

now was that a shot a al?


i know you're better than that cman. serious situation, bad comment.

[Hoosiercatdaddy]

Originally Posted by cman

but thank god Sharpton is there

wde

i didnt know he ever got involved in anything

[KALIND]

Originally Posted by Hoosiercatdaddy

i didnt know he ever got involved in anything

oh boy.

[Big Pimpin]

What ever happened to Tawana Brawley?

[Keith]

this story is big news here in New York City. The police version (which did not come out until this morning) was that an undercover cop had jumped on the hood of the car; identified himself as a cop; and told them to stop the car and place their hands where he could see them.

Apparently the driver decided to take a different approach other than complying with a cop's directive.

I am not for one second suggesting that these guys deserved to be shot or that the driver deserved to be killed. BUT, when a cop tells you to stop your car and place your hands in his sight, you should do it.

P.S. he had not gotten married yet, so technically he was not a groom.

[Big Pimpin]

Nothing good ever happens leaving a strip club at 4am on the eve of your wedding


My opinion of course

[GFootsXtreme]

Originally Posted by Keith

this story is big news here in New York City. The police version (which did not come out until this morning) was that an undercover cop had jumped on the hood of the car; identified himself as a cop; and told them to stop the car and place their hands where he could see them.

Apparently the driver decided to take a different approach other than complying with a cop's directive.

I am not for one second suggesting that these guys deserved to be shot or that the driver deserved to be killed. BUT, when a cop tells you to stop your car and place your hands in his sight, you should do it.

P.S. he had not gotten married yet, so technically he was not a groom.

Yes the police and government, once given 24 hours to concoct a story, have come up with one that says, well, we killed all of them after identifying ourselves, and if you don't believe us just ask the dead victims. RIGHT.

Cheney, we were told, had not been drinking that night when he shot his friend in the woods. Well in an interview a few days later he admitted to "having a beer."

Lies, lies lies. Once again a bunch of psychotic cops were on duty doing something else, saw something they didn't like, got way to hyped up and used excessive force. Once they saw their buddy shooting they all got in the act, hence the reckless spraying of bullets to surrounding areas. That, all by itself is reckless endangerment and enough to remove each of them from the force -- which it won't.

Never, ever can they just admit they were totally wrong. They always have to create a defense that creates an ever-greater wedge between the public and the cops.

People make mistakes, there are bad cops, doesn't mean all of NYPD sucks. These particular clowns however need to go to jail, which they won't.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by GFootsXtreme

Yes the police and government, once given 24 hours to concoct a story, have come up with one that says, well, we killed all of them after identifying ourselves, and if you don't believe us just ask the dead victims. RIGHT.

Cheney, we were told, had not been drinking that night when he shot his friend in the woods. Well in an interview a few days later he admitted to "having a beer."

Lies, lies lies. Once again a bunch of psychotic cops were on duty doing something else, saw something they didn't like, got way to hyped up and used excessive force. Once they saw their buddy shooting they all got in the act, hence the reckless spraying of bullets to surrounding areas. That, all by itself is reckless endangerment and enough to remove each of them from the force -- which it won't.

Never, ever can they just admit they were totally wrong. They always have to create a defense that creates an ever-greater wedge between the public and the cops.

People make mistakes, there are bad cops, doesn't mean all of NYPD sucks. These particular clowns however need to go to jail, which they won't.

alot of generalizations here my friend. Of the 50 shots, 31 were fired by only 1 officer. None of the officers involved had EVER shot their service revolvers--NOT ONCE. Now, all of a sudden, you are suggesting that they are reckless psychos. I am skeptical.

I am not suggesting that cops never use excessive force, or that they never unfairly target minorities. They do. BUT, there are also times when the force utilized is appropriate for the circumstances. This may or may not be one of those times. But once again, I repeat: when a cop, who has a gun pointed at you tells you to do something, you are FAR better off if you do it--no questions asked.

[cptkirk321]

Originally Posted by GFootsXtreme

Yes the police and government, once given 24 hours to concoct a story, have come up with one that says, well, we killed all of them after identifying ourselves, and if you don't believe us just ask the dead victims. RIGHT.

Cheney, we were told, had not been drinking that night when he shot his friend in the woods. Well in an interview a few days later he admitted to "having a beer."

Lies, lies lies. Once again a bunch of psychotic cops were on duty doing something else, saw something they didn't like, got way to hyped up and used excessive force. Once they saw their buddy shooting they all got in the act, hence the reckless spraying of bullets to surrounding areas. That, all by itself is reckless endangerment and enough to remove each of them from the force -- which it won't.

Never, ever can they just admit they were totally wrong. They always have to create a defense that creates an ever-greater wedge between the public and the cops.

People make mistakes, there are bad cops, doesn't mean all of NYPD sucks. These particular clowns however need to go to jail, which they won't.

I always thought in the United States you are innocent until proven guilty?

Why not wait untill all the FACTS come out before rendering the death sentence on these cops. I will say that I do agree with Keith, if a cop tells you to put your hands where he can see him, its probably a good idea to do that

Its a funny thing, I have lived for 30+ years on this earth and not once have I had a cop point his gun at me nor shoot at me, wonder why that is?

[The Judge]

The hail of gunfire at a car full of unarmed men

One cop emptied two magazines of rounds into the car with a total of 50 shots being fired by five seperate officers. Enough said.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by The Judge

One cop emptied two magazines of rounds into the car with a total of 50 shots being fired by five seperate officers. Enough said.

Your Honor, of all people, should know not to pre-judge the case without first hearing all of the evidence.

[The Judge]

Originally Posted by Keith

Your Honor, of all people, should know not to pre-judge the case without first hearing all of the evidence.

Give me a break, Keith.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by The Judge

Give me a break, Keith.

Judge-- you mean you aren't a REAL Judge ????? (LOL)

All I am saying is that many times, although not always, there is more to a story than meets the eye. For example, someone mentioned Tawana Brawley earlier. One of Reverand Al Sharpton's finest moments.