Palm Beach Gardens officer Nouman Raja was working undercover trying to catch burglars when he stopped to check out what he thought was an abandoned vehicle along a dark South Florida highway entrance ramp.
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Crump, who represented Trayvon Martin’s family, said another question the family wants answered is why weren’t they notified of Corey’s death until late Sunday afternoon. Jones’ body was found 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 meters) from his auto and his gun was found on the ground between the vehicle and his body, Crump said.
“We appreciate the governor’s offer and have spoken with FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen about this matter”. Get The NewsOne Flip App for iPhone: Flip, Skip – Or Send Us a Tip!
Wilfork says he has tons of respect for law enforcement and even has friends who are police officers.
Following a news conference, hundreds of people rallied Thursday outside Palm Beach Gardens City Hall to demand greater transparency in the investigation.
Earlier this week, Stepp told reporters that Raja was “suddenly confronted by an armed subject”, and fatally shot Jones. Police haven’t said what race he is. “It is a source of anguish and frustration for black people nationwide, and legislative action and enforcement appears to be the only proper remedy”.
Rep. Bobby Powell, D-Riviera Beach, echoed that view: “This has to stop”. My brother didn’t see color. “My community is frustrated, and rightfully so”. A plainclothes police officer in an unmarked vehicle approached him, and police say Jones drew his gun. The auto did not have a dashcam and Raja was not wearing a body camera.
The family’s lawyers also said that Raja didn’t show his badge during the confrontation and shot Jones six times, hitting him three times.
Jones, a black man and drummer in a band, was returning home from a gig when his auto broke down. He was waiting for a tow truck when officer Nouman Raja, who was in plainclothes, arrived in an unmarked van.
“He never displayed a badge to Corey”, said Benjamin Crump, the family’s lawyer.
Jones is the drummer of his band, Future Prezidents, and the choir at the Bible Church of God, according to Jones’ aunt, Serena Banks. He used to play music there.
The Jones family wants more than that, too, like an explanation of why it took them about 38 hours to learn that Corey had been killed.
‘He was just a lovely grandchild, ‘ Banks said. “For them to call Corey aggressive, no way”.
Crump has represented the families of other young black men killed in high-profile police shootings, including Michael Brown and Tamir Rice.
Palm Beach Gardens police said Jones “confronted” Raja, who then fired at Jones. Jones was active in both the City of Boynton Beach and the City of Delray communities, and the answers to his death are not complete.
“Just really sad for Corey’s family”.
Raja had recently joined the Palm Beach Gardens police department in April but had over seven years of experience and a clean police record. “I know Chief Stephen Stepp”, said Commissioner Hal Valeche as the crowd boo’d. He’s been with the Palm Beach Gardens police department for only 6 months and apparently lied on his application about being reprimanded at his former police job. At least two of those cases were dropped.
Palm Beach Gardens police haven’t said whether Raja identified himself as an officer, citing an ongoing sheriff’s investigation.
He said the family also had questions about where Jones fell after he was shot.
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“As state attorney my office is conducting an independent and thorough investigation, as we do in all officer-involved shooting deaths”, he said in a statement. They grew up in the same home and played football and video games and went to church together as kids. They also liked to go fishing, but because of Jones’ gentle nature, Allen recalled, it usually meant releasing whatever they caught. Police have not confirmed wither Raja and Jones got into a verbal confrontation before the shooting. Levy said he thought it best for him to not attend the rally. “He asked, what if someone tried to do that to my church?”
