Trial by Media

On the morning of February 4, 1999, a 22-year-old Guinean immigrant named Amadou Diallo (born September 2, 1975) was shot and killed by four New York City Police Department plain-clothed officers—Sean Carroll, Richard Murphy, Edward McMellon and Kenneth Boss after running from the officers when asked to show his hands. Diallo was shot 41 times. Diallo was unarmed and had no criminal record. Despite the overwhelming evidence against the officers, all were found not guilty.