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NY rally deplores police shooting | NY rally deplores police shooting |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A crowd led by civil rights leader Al Sharpton has rallied after police shot dead an unarmed black man in New York. | |
Sean Bell, 23, was killed as he left a strip club on Saturday morning, hours before he was to have been married. | |
Two friends were hurt when police fired an estimated 50 bullets at the men's car. Officials said police had acted fearing an armed "altercation". | Two friends were hurt when police fired an estimated 50 bullets at the men's car. Officials said police had acted fearing an armed "altercation". |
Sunday's rally heard calls for the city police chief "to go". He is due to meet community leaders over the killing. | Sunday's rally heard calls for the city police chief "to go". He is due to meet community leaders over the killing. |
"We cannot allow this to continue to happen," Rev Sharpton told the rally outside the hospital where one of the wounded men was in a critical condition. | "We cannot allow this to continue to happen," Rev Sharpton told the rally outside the hospital where one of the wounded men was in a critical condition. |
"We've got to understand that all of us were in that car." | "We've got to understand that all of us were in that car." |
'Stinks' | 'Stinks' |
Five officers have been placed on leave during an inquiry into the shooting outside the Kalua Club, at the end of Mr Bell's stag night celebrations. | |
POLICE VIOLENCE Timothy Thomas, 2001: Unarmed black teenager shot by white officer in Cincinnati while fleeing. Death sparked days of rioting in cityPatrick Dorismond, 2000: Unarmed black man killed in bungled drugs sting in New York, in a death which drew protestsAmadou Diallo, 1999: West African immigrant killed when white police mistook his wallet for gun. Four officers acquitted; family given $3mRodney King, 1991: Black man badly beaten by LA police after resisting arrest for speeding, in videotaped attack. Acquittal of officers led to riots in 1992. Mr King given $3.8m | |
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been in contact with Mr Bell's family, and plans to meet community leaders with police chief Raymond Kelly amid mounting protests from the city's black community. | Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been in contact with Mr Bell's family, and plans to meet community leaders with police chief Raymond Kelly amid mounting protests from the city's black community. |
Rev Sharpton has said the shooting "stinks" and has criticised the police for handcuffing the two men receiving emergency care for their injuries in hospital. | Rev Sharpton has said the shooting "stinks" and has criticised the police for handcuffing the two men receiving emergency care for their injuries in hospital. |
One of Mr Bell's passengers, Joseph Guzman, was hit by at least 11 bullets and is in a critical condition. | One of Mr Bell's passengers, Joseph Guzman, was hit by at least 11 bullets and is in a critical condition. |
The other passenger, Trent Benefield, was hit three times and is in a stable condition. | The other passenger, Trent Benefield, was hit three times and is in a stable condition. |
No weapons were found on the three men or in their car. | No weapons were found on the three men or in their car. |
New York police have faced criticism over other shootings of unarmed black men in recent years. | New York police have faced criticism over other shootings of unarmed black men in recent years. |
In 1999, officers fired 41 bullets at unarmed Amadou Diallo, which led to a wave of protests. The four officers involved were acquitted of all charges. | In 1999, officers fired 41 bullets at unarmed Amadou Diallo, which led to a wave of protests. The four officers involved were acquitted of all charges. |
Surveillance | Surveillance |
Mr Kelly has accepted that it was unclear why Saturday's shooting started, or whether his detectives had identified themselves as police officers. | Mr Kelly has accepted that it was unclear why Saturday's shooting started, or whether his detectives had identified themselves as police officers. |
Al Sharpton said the police must explain its actions | |
Police opened fire on the car carrying the men after it reportedly struck an unmarked police vehicle. | Police opened fire on the car carrying the men after it reportedly struck an unmarked police vehicle. |
The club was under surveillance because of its long history of weapons complaints, drug-dealing and prostitution, Mr Kelly said. | The club was under surveillance because of its long history of weapons complaints, drug-dealing and prostitution, Mr Kelly said. |
Mr Kelly said the three men were also being watched. | Mr 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 involved in a dispute with another person outside the club. | He said an undercover officer at the club had reported that the men were in a group 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. | The officer had reportedly called his colleagues saying he feared a gun would be produced. |
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