Trials Judge Tells Police Commissioner To Fire The Detective Who Shot At Sean Bell

The detective whose gunfire sparked the 50-shot fusillade that killed Sean Bell on his wedding day should be fired, a NYPD trials commissioner has recommended. I will not even begin to comment on this but Sean Bell lost his life.

Det. Gescard Isnora’s fate now rests in the hands of Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, who will make the final determination about Isnora’s career.

Kelly can rubber stamp the recommendation, which was made by Deputy Commissioner of Trials Martin Karopkin, or hand out a less severe punishment. Kelly will also decide whether Isnora gets to keep his retirement benefits.

The other cop who was charged by the department and tried in a NYPD trial room with Isnora, Officer Michael Carey, was found not guilty.

Isnora testified on his behalf at the department trial. He was not surprised by the decision, a source close to him said.

Others weighed in, too.

The recommendation to fire Isnora is a “clear signal that Sean Bell was killed, while Joe Guzman and Trent Benefield were injured due to no fault of their own,” Rev. Al Sharpton said in a statement. “For the judge to find Detective Gescard Isnora reckless in triggering what occurred is to remove the attempt by the defenders of the police to put the blame on the victims, as was attempted with malice throughout the criminal trial.”

Sean Bell’s fiancee, Nicole Paultre-Bell, had no immediate comment, but she will hold a press conference Thursday, her lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein said.

Bell, 23, was killed Nov. 23, 2006, shortly after he and friends left a Queens strip club.

Isnora followed Bell and two friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, because he said he heard Guzman talk about getting his gun after arguing with another man outside the club.

Isnora, who was working undercover at the club that night, followed the trio, then fired at their car after it struck him in the leg.

Four other officers also fired.

Guzman and Benefield were badly hurt, but survived.

Michael Palladino, head of the detectives’ union, said he disagreed with the verdict.
DN