Atlanta police have announced the murder of former boxing champ O’Neil Bell on the day before Thanksgiving. Police report that Bell and another passenger were getting off a bus, when a car with four men drove up. Someone in the car shot both men and then fled. Bell was pronounced dead at the crime scene with a gunshot wound to his chest while the other passenger was shot in the hip and transported to a hospital.
During his boxing career, Bell held four different titles, which included the WBA, WBC and IBF cruiserweight belts. Bell’s career lasted 13 years and his record was 27-4-1 with 25 wins by knockout. Fighting under the names “Give ‘Em Hell” Bell and “Supernova,” he was considered one of two undisputed cruiserweight champions in boxing history. Bell, 40, was born in Jamaica. Before entering boxing professionally, he was a driver for UPS.
Police are now looking for a stolen 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser with the Georgia tag TJC685. Police released video footage of the car and a possible suspect seen exiting the vehicle.
Bell was the second boxing champion to be killed in Atlanta. In 2009, welterweight champion Vernon Forest was robbed at gunpoint and shot and killed at an Atlanta gas station.
Police are now asking the public for help during the ongoing investigation. The public is being asked to call the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at (404)-577-TIPS (8477). Callers with information are eligible for as much as a $2,000 reward for tips that lead to the arrest and indictment of the suspects.
