Instead of attending their son’s wedding, Sean Bell’s family must now begin the painful task of making funeral arrangements for their son. Sean Bell, 23 years old, was killed when several undercover New York Police Officers’ open fired, releasing over 50 shots, killing Sean and injuring two others on the night before his wedding. Why and how did this horrible tragedy happen? Why has another young black man been murdered?

His fiancé should be celebrating her new life with her husband, but is now mourning the love of her life. His children must now prepare for a life without their father, and for what reason?

Sean and two friends were leaving a club, following his bachelor party. They got into a car and allegedly drove the car into one of the undercover officers’ and an unmarked police van. The officers immediately open fired, and instead of stopping after 3 shots were fired and reassessing the situation, as policy dictates, over 50 shots were fired at the car, killing Sean and injuring his two friends. Neither of the young men was armed, and there is no evidence that they were doing anything wrong at the time of the shooting.

The cops have been suspended with pay (of course), and the family is left with grief and unanswered questions. Will the cops be held accountable? In an ideal world, yes they would. In an ideal world, there would be no bureaucratic led investigation that takes months and months to complete. In an ideal world, the cops would be fired and charged with murder. But alas, we don’t live in an ideal world. Our world is filled with families who have lost loved ones to un-justified violence, and overflowing with those who continue to be violated by those who have taken an oath to serve and protect.

What can we do? Send our thoughts and prayers to Sean’s family and never stop demanding that our government draft laws that protect and provide justice. And never forget those who have been lost by the hands of murderous cops.