Sean Bell Shooting, Cops Acquitted
For those not familiar with the latest police-shooting scandal to rock New York, Sean Bell, a 23 year old black male, was shot to death a year ago by five plainclothes police officers after leaving his bachelor party at a strip club in Jamaica, Queens. Sean Bell was unarmed as police shot over 50 bullets into the car, where he was killed, and two of his friends–Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield–seriously injured. The scandal now is around three of the five detectives involved in the shooting, who were indicted by a grand jury and found not guilty.
Sean Bell, his fiancee Nicole Paultre, and their daughter
The incident is interesting, for the following facts:
- Bell had been arrested once for a firearms possession
- Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield were arrested at least once for illegal firearm possession
- Sean Bell, according to a toxicology report, was drunk at the time of the shooting
- One of Bell’s friends was heard to say “yo, get my gun” as they left the club
- Sean Bell ran into an unmarked police minivan before the shooting
- Officer Michael Oliver fired thirty one times
- The three police officers, Gescard Isnora, Michael Oliver, and Marc Cooper, waived the right to Jury trial
After the shooting, Michael Bloomberg said “it sounds to me like excessive force was used.” Ice Cube noted that “this is just another example that the justice system in America views a black life as worthless,” while rapper Chamillionaire said:
I’m sure a lot of people are as disappointed with this verdict as I am. It scares me to know what type of power is given to people who are supposed to be protecting us from harm. It seems like they are all just protecting themselves. The verdict sends a terrible message to people across the nation who already don’t have faith in the law or our justice system. It will be hard for people to see this as anything other than a case of police protection.
The Rev. Al Sharpton called the verdict an “abortion of justice.” And while the police of New York city are getting more violent as time goes on–in the name of anti-terrorism, of course–a combination of perceived threat and noncooperation by the deceased are all that is to blame here. Unfortunately, in the 21st century, if you don’t follow a police officer’s precise orders, he has every right to shoot and kill you. That’s something that has to change.
T.I.’s Deal is 12 Months in Prison
According to TMZ, rapper T.I. has agreed to plead guilty to federal gun charges. The 27 year old rap star, whose real name is Clifford Harris, will spend 12 months in Prison and do 1500 hours of community service.
Last October T.I. was arrested in Atlanta when one of his bodyguards allegedly tried to purchase guns for him. T.I., who isa convicted felon, cannot legally buy firearms. For each count, he faced a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook Photos Hacked
Byron Ng found a way to view Facebook photos that were protected by privacy settings, so we get to see some of Mark Zuckerberg’s own photos from his albums. Naturally, these are pretty innocuous, as the founder of Facebook certainly knows what is not online, or what doesn’t exist, can’t leak out. Keep that sexy time close, Zuckerberg.
Mark Zuckerberg photographed drinking
Zuckerberg drinking beer
Zuckerberg and current girlfriend Priscilla Chan
Facebook Office Party!!!!
A very PR looking shot of Mark
Kiefer Sutherland Mug Shot Photo
After being arrested by the Glendale Police Department in December for a 48-day jail sentence, they naturally took his photo. Kiefer Sutherland, the 40 year old actor of hit TV show “24″ pled no contest to DUI. This is second DUI bust; I guess fighting terrorists makes you an alcoholic.
It’s too bad that 24 is on hold for season 7 because of the writer’s strike. Season 6 was awful and they need to get it right in the future!
Al Gore III Mugshot *hawt*
The world’s most famous and loathed celeb blogger Perez Hilton screwed up on his post about Al Gore III (Al Gore’s son). The former Vice President’s son (24) was arrested for driving a blue Toyota Prius on the southbound San Diego Freeway at 100mph and having marijuana, Valium, Xanax, Vicodin and Adderall in the car. But the photo Perez defaced and posted isn’t his mugshot; this is:
Al Gore III was released after posting $20,000 bail. “He does not have a prescription for any of those drugs,” Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Armormino said.