New York City
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg this week promised a full investigation of what he called the "unacceptable" and "inexplicable" police shooting last week of three unarmed black men outside a strip club. Sean Bell, 23, who was holding his bachelor party at the club, died after more than 50 bullets were fired at his car. He was to be married the next day. Police say an undercover officer at the scene believed Bell was going to retrieve a gun and return to the club. The officer ordered Bell to stop, police said, but Bell instead tried to run him down. Other officers then began shooting, killing Bell and wounding his two companions. After meeting with Bell's family, Bloomberg said Bell and his friends had done nothing wrong. "Clearly, they were victims," Bloomberg said. The police union protested that Bloomberg had rushed to judgment and was prejudicing the case.
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