Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
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Forum Posts for Sean Bell:
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Sean Bell, 23, was shot and killed by NYPD officers in Queens on the morning of November 25, 2006, hours before his scheduled wedding. Bell was unarmed and leaving his bachelor party at the Kalua Cabaret with friends Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield when an argument occurred outside the club.

Four other officers joined in; a total of 50 shots were fired into the vehicle. Bell was struck four times and died. Guzman was shot 19 times and Benefield three times; both survived. No weapon was ever found in the car. A grand jury later indicted three officers; Isnora and Detective Michael Oliver faced manslaughter counts and Detective Marc Cooper was charged with reckless endangerment. All three pleaded not guilty and were acquitted at a non-jury trial in April 2008.

The Justice Department declined to bring federal civil rights charges. The city settled civil claims in July 2010, paying $3.25 million to Bell’s estate, $3 million to Guzman and $900,000 to Benefield. Isnora was fired in 2012; Oliver and Cooper were allowed to retire. Did anyone who knew Sean or was at the Kalua Cabaret that night come forward with additional details?