Sean Bell's family met with Federal prosecutors on Tuesday, one week before the second anniversary of Bell's death. According to NY1:The family of police shooting victim Sean Bell called on the Department of Justice Tuesday to bring federal civil rights charges against the detectives involved in his death.
The family's attorney met with federal prosecutors to get an update on the investigation.
Detectives Michael Oliver, Gescard Isnora, and Marc Cooper were acquitted of criminal charges back in April.
Bell was shot and killed after leaving a Queens nightclub in November 2006.
Bell's family expressed cautious optimism when asked about the meetings.
"Everything that they've told us today was very encouraging just knowing that, you know, there will be an investigation going on. We're just praying for the best, hoping," said Nicole Paultre-Bell, the victim's fiancee.
"They're really looking into it. And it makes you feel alive a little bit, you know, because next week is a bad day for us, really," said William Bell, the victim's father. "That was a human being taken away from us in the saddest way."
Meanwhile, Rev. Al Sharpton is calling for the new Attorney General in the upcoming Obama administration to investigate the Sean Bell case:"The minute we get a new attorney general, we must go to that attorney general and deal with the issue of police misconduct," Sharpton said in a fiery address at his Harlem headquarters.
"We must bring the case of Sean Bell and other cases that haven't been handled well in the states to the federal level."
But according to the New York Daily News, federal charges may not be forthcoming:
Sources said the agency appears unlikely to bring federal charges."Sources" are often wrong and public pressure may have a role in how the case proceeds.
"The review by this office has not been completed," said Robert Nardoza, a spokesman for the Brooklyn U.S. attorney's office. He would not discuss the meeting.
Comments: (10)
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By: gail sampson on 11/21/2008 9:53PM
I believe justice should be served they cold blooded killed that young man and that was an injustice they should take responsibility for what they did,and they should also apoligize to the bell family for the pain and suffering that they have caused that family and i mean a public apology.
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By: Mac on 11/22/2008 2:24PM
The Black cop is the only officer who apologized to the Bell family. The white and Hispanic one said nothing.
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By: Kenneth Jackson on 11/23/2008 10:55AM
Dear Nicole ,
I marched for Sean back in 2006. I have watched how you handled yourself in the media, from day one to now. I am so proud of you ! The strength you are showing to the world, but more importantly the strength you are showing your daughters ! I pray that justice will finally be served. God willing.
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By: ursula on 11/23/2008 1:57PM
My heart and prayers goes out to the Bell family.
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By: Josi on 11/23/2008 3:14PM
I marched for Sean in Brooklyn it was a moving experience. I personally met the mother of father of Sean. They are kind and truly personable parents.
I invited the mother to my church and she did come and annouced a fund that they had set up in her son's Sean's name.
It is unfortunate the there are a few officers who taint the NYPD. We have a great force but some need to be weeded out. Our great mayor needs to take a look especially at the complaints he'd realize there is something amiss in the force. Which only he can initiate a change.
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By: Chez-Cerise on 11/24/2008 9:40AM
I don't understand how an unarmed man can be shot dead 50 times and there are no prison sentences but Mike Vick was vilified and and sentenced to prison time for dog fighting. I guess the lives of those dogs is worth more than that of a man.
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By: Dawne Gilliam on 11/24/2008 11:08AM
My daughter was murdered by a New York City Correctional Officer from Riker's who was moonlighting at a Long Island RESTAURANT. He opened fire while lying on the floor at 3 to 4 individuals he was having trouble with.He fired 10 rounds from his job issued weapon randomly hitting different objects in the restaurant. However one of those stray bullets struck my daughter in the head. She died after being repeatedly resuccitated at the site and at the hospital she was transported to. She left behind 2 brothers,Mother,father, grandparents and a 3 YEAR OLD SON...it'll be 6 yrs. since her murder and this man has not been held responsible, has never admitted what he did and he also returned back to work after killing her.
I need help obtaining justice for my daughter's death.
Her SON needs justice too. I've benn BEGGING for help in the local papers and local television news shows.
Please helpp us...
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By: oldwhiteguy on 11/24/2008 11:40AM
Well, I guess all of you poor, underprivileged, preyed upon innocent victims need to contact "your" President. He surely will help you with this just like he's going to pay all your debt and provide the reparation you SO deserve. But I would suggest, if you want a long rewarding life, pull up those drawers, lose the "grill" and talk with some intelligence with a language that can be understood by all. Police aren't the problem it's YOU. Just listen to the message in your music, on TV shows documenting your idols past and present. LOL, gunned down in gang-related activity. LOL.. All prisoners "didn't do it"...for real, no really for real...didn't do it. It was the man that held me down, yeah that's why i smokes crack, rob, kill, and reproduce babies, but haves no family. Wake up!!! It's your culture you're swirling in going down the toilet drain. Don't be a "hater" now in your response. NK? Keep it Real. Now go downtown and git me a sugar-cookie..beeouch!
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By: Deb on 11/24/2008 7:47PM
Hey oldwhitescum! Find another site to tarnish will'ya B-Y-O-T-C-H!
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By: MOWSE on 11/25/2008 2:25AM
MR.OLD WHITE GUY,
MY DAUGHTER WAS MURDERED IN 2003.SHE WAS A HARD WORKING YOUNG WOMAN.DAUGHTER OF TWO HARD WORKING PARENTS.GUNNED DOWN LIKE AN ANIMAL.
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH.THERE ARE BLACK REPUBLICANS AS WELL AS WHITE. THOSE THAT TURNED THEIR BACKS ON ME AND MY FAMILY WERE BLACK AND WHITE. MY DAUGHTER WASN'T A THUG OR DRUG DEALER. SHE WASN'T FROM THE STREETS.SHE WASN'T NEEDY OR ON WELFARE. SHE WASN'T TRASH WHERE SOMEONE COULD GET SOME PUBLICITY IN THE PAPER SO ALL OUR CRIES FOR HELP WERE IGNORED.SHE WAS KILLED BECAUSE SOME LOW LIFE,DRUG DEALERS AND AN OFFICER WHO DIDN'T DO HIS JOB DECIDED TO ACT LIKE FOOLS.I AM AN INDIVIDUAL, RESPECT ME AS ONE I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND ALL THAT I'VE WORKED FOR. NOTHING WAS EVER GIVEN TO ME. I DO NOT TAKE WHAT HAVE NOT EARNED. KNOW WHO IT IS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE YOU MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF.DON'T BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE MR. OLD WHITE GUY BE MAN ENOUGH TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.SHOOTING A YOUNG WOMAN IN THE HEAD AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT IS NOT RIGHT. BY THE WAY THE MAN THAT SHOT HER WAS A BLACK MAN.SKIN COLOR IS JUST THAT A COLOR.WRONG IS WRONG REGARDLESS OF THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN..
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