Sharpton: Federal prosecutors won’t file civil rights charges in NYPD shooting of unarmed man

Sharpton: Feds won’t pursue NYPD shooting of man

NEW YORK — The Rev. Al Sharpton says there will be no federal civil rights case in the New York City police shooting of Sean Bell.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn had been reviewing the shooting of the 23-year-Bell, who was gunned down outside a Queens strip club on his wedding day in 2006. Four police officers were acquitted of manslaughter and other charges in 2008.

Bell’s supporters had lobbied prosecutors to charge the shooters with violating Bell’s civil rights.

But Sharpton said Tuesday the family was told no case would be brought.

Prosecutors had no immediate comment.

The officers — undercover detectives investigating reports of prostitution at the club — said they opened fire because they thought someone in Bell’s group was reaching for a gun. Fifty shots were fired at Bell’s car. No weapon was found.