Another day, another innocent Black man gets shot by a police officer!
This time it was Corey Jones, a popular church drummer from Florida, who was fatally shot as he attended to his disabled vehicle on the side of the road.
Jones was approached by a plainclothes officer on Sunday evening (October 18, 2015) as he was stranded on the side of the Interstate 95 highway after his car broke down.
For the record, the officer was wearing street clothes and driving an unmarked car. What happened next has been disputed by Jones’ family members and authorities, but what is clear is that another innocent Black man has been killed by an ‘officer of the law’.
Details below…
Jones called friend and bandmate Mathew Huntsberger, who already made it home. He also called his brother Clinton Jones Jr. Huntsberger arrived on the highway to help Jones with his car, but after pushing the vehicle to side of the road and a failed oil change attempt, Huntsberger went home at 2:30 a.m.
Jones called AT&T Roadside Assistance after Huntsberger left.
Palm Beach Garden officer Nouman Raja reportedly arrived in an unmarked police car 45 minutes later and noticed Jones on the side of the road. After an alleged confrontation, Raja shot Jones at least 5 times, resulting in his death.
Police say Jones was carrying a weapon in his hand when Raja approached him.
Here’s how the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Police Department described what happened when a police officer encountered Corey Jonesnext to Jones’ broken-down SUV over the weekend:
On Sunday, October 18th, 2015, at approximately 3:15 a.m., a Palm Springs Garden Police Officer, Nouman Raja, on duty in a plain clothes capacity, in an unmarked police vehicle, stopped to investigate what he believed to be an abandoned vehicle on the southbound exit ramp of Interstate 95 and PGA Blvd. As the officer exited his vehicle, he was suddenly confronted by an armed subject. As a result of the confrontation, the officer discharged his firearm resulting in the death of the subject, Corey Jones. Per Department policy the officer is currently on paid administrative leave and an independent investigation is being conducted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Raja has been placed on paid administrative leave following Jones? death and it is unknown if there is footage of Jones? encounter with the officer.
The officer’s account is clearly the only one now that Jones is deceased, however friends, family & supporters of the fallen musician are all seeking answers about this tragic situation.
On Tuesday Roland Martin and the NewsOne Now panel discussed this disturbing incident.
VIDEO: Roland Martin Discusses Corey Jones Case
#RIPCoreyJones