A Palm Beach Gardens police officer fatally shot the drummer of a well-known Florida band who had pulled over on a highway ramp after his car broke down early Sunday morning.
Officer Nouman Raja, an on-duty officer in plain clothes and an unmarked car, saw Corey Jones’ vehicle and stopped to investigation, according to a news release posted to the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department's Facebook page, which has since been taken down.
As Raja exited his car, he was "suddenly confronted by an armed subject,” prompting the officer to discharge his firearm, the statement read.
Calls to the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department were not immediately returned.
Jones, the drummer of Future Prezidents, was returning from a gig at approximately 3 a.m. Sunday, his friend and bandmate Boris Simeonov told BuzzFeed News.
“We had just performed a shot in Jupiter,” Simeonov said. “It was a great night.”
The next morning, he received a phone call from Jones’ brother who informed him about the shooting.
“Every singe person that’s ever met Corey, whether it was for a minute or knew him for life, will tell you he’s the most patient, kind, smart person they’ve ever met,” Simeonov said. “He’s very calm and rational. He respected everyone."
Simeonov added that Jones had a “passion and love for playing his instrument,” and that he was a “true gentleman.”
Jones’ family has hired noted civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who has represented the families of other black men shot by police, including Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, and Michael Brown.
John Kazanjian, head of the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, told WPTV that the police department needs to be more transparent.
"We don't want another Ferguson," Kazannjian told WPTV. "They need to get out there and address the public. Chief, get out there and tell the public what's going on."
Raja told investigators Corey pulled a gun after he said, “Police, are you alright?” according to WPBF25, citing unnamed sources.
Raja has been placed on paid administrative leave, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting, according to the Sun Sentinel.
Simeonov said something about the police narrative doesn’t seem right as Jones was never confrontational.
“I’ve never seem him lose his temper,” Simeonov said. “I’ve never seen him not be cool, calm, and collected.”
from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/1W2MSEB
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