City Desk – Sean Bell Trial Continues

Today in the Sean Bell case, several police weapons were introduced as evidence into the trial. The guns were collected on the scene that night by Sergeant Donald Kipp, who testified interviewing the four detectives who fired the weapons. All but one of them are currently on trial.

Kipp said Detective Mike Oliver told him he fired his weapon. Of course, firing his weapon included letting off 31 shots. Oliver is currently facing manslaughter charges for his involvement in the shooting of Sean Bell.

Kipp said Detective Gescard Isnora, who also faces manslaughter charges, said he did not know if he fired his weapon. Prosecutors say Isnora fired the first shot, along with ten other shots.

Detective Cooper, who faces reckless endangerment charges, fired four shots, and told Kipp he also shot his gun that night.

Kipp also said none of the cops were intoxicated, which is a detail that the prosecution plans to hammer on. Even though Kipp says several of the officers admitted to having a few drinks in the club, he deemed them all fit for duty when the shooting of Sean Bell occurred.

“As a result of this case of course, it is now the requirement that police officers be tested after every fatal shooting,” said attorney Michael Hardy. “Had that requirement been in place at the time of this shooting, then we would have scientific evidence as to whether or not any of those officers were intoxicated.”

Kipp also stated that at the time he did not hear about the famous “fourth man” with “a gun” that the police were saying they were looking for directly after the shooting. Kipp says to this day he has never heard of such official report.