Sean Bell with fiancee Nicole Paultre and
one of their daughters. Photo: AP
The circumstances surrounding the death of Sean Bell, a 23-year-old black man shot by New York police just hours before his wedding, are unclear.
But one question preoccupies several bloggers: why did they have to fire 50 bullets at Mr Bell and his two friends?
"I have never been one to automatically assume the cops were at fault, however, firing 50 times into a car because they 'thought' that someone in the car 'might' have a gun, is way over the top," writes Renee at Hasta Los Gatos Quieren Zapatos.
Roy on TalkLeft adds:
"I've often wondered, what is it about the situation after 49 shots have been fired that makes a cop think that one more shot needs to be fired?
And what changed between 49 and 50 to make them all think, OK, it's time to stop? Maybe the answer is just that the cop didn't think. Limiting beat cops to 10 shots per magazine might yield some benefit, but most people aren't any deader with 11 bullets in them than they are with 10. The real solution will be a combination of training, accountability, repealing some criminal laws, and demilitarizing the enforcement of some remaining laws."
Bomber at Tumeke draws a comparison between the behaviour of US police and that of US troops abroad:
"I'm never surprised that American soldiers butcher civilians overseas, look at the way they treat their own people. Two of the victims of this shooting was handcuffed to hospital beds after being shot, this mentality speaks of a deep problem with the way the Police view those they are supposed to serve and protect."
Gat9's MySpace page has a more personal take on the killing. He knew Mr Bell.
"Its crazy when you look at every New York newspaper and on the front page a person you knew died. I knew Sean from Little League Baseball in Queens...The only one as competitive as I am. I remember being selected for the All-star team, he was there as well our star pitcher.
br>He could have went Pro... Now he is Killed By POLICE in a hail of bullets (50 shots) and just hours before getting Married!That's crazy!! ...that's unfair when your unarmed!... R.I.P Sean."
