NEW YORK, NY April 29, 2008 —Governor Paterson says he's somewhat surprised by the acquittal of 3 police detectives in the fatal shooting of Sean Bell.

Paterson says the verdict surprised him because of the number of shots fired at Bell and his 2 friends. Officers unloaded 50 shots at the 3 men outside a strip club in Queens the night before Bell's wedding.

The officers believed the men had a gun and said they feared for their lives - the 3 were unarmed.

The governor says he understands why some people are upset, but he says the judge's verdict must be accepted. He's encouraging people to wait for the outcomes of investigations by the NYPD and federal authorities.

On Monday, the head of the House Judiciary Committee, Michigan Congressman John Conyers, met with Bell's family to discuss a federal investigation into the shooting.