FLORIDA-SHOOTING/PROTEST Protestors in Florida demand answers after drummer killed by police

Record ID: 135269

  • Title: FLORIDA-SHOOTING/PROTEST Protestors in Florida demand answers after drummer killed by police
  • Date: 22nd October 2015
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PROTESTORS HOLDING SIGNS (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) BROTHER OF COREY JONES, CLINTON JONES JR., SAYING: "Everybody knows Corey, and knows Corey would never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever go against the law. FAMILY STANDING WITH LAWYER BENJAMIN CRUMP CLOSE UP OF LAWYER BENJAMIN CRUMP VARIOUS OF CROWD CLOSE UP PROTEST SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) FRIEND AND FORMER FOOTBALL
  • Embargoed: 6th November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA58BSN01HGF69X93DQI1L2XW46
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hundreds of protesters gathered outside of the Palm Beach Gardens city hall in Florida on Thursday (October 22) to demand answers in the police shooting death of 31-year-old black musician Corey Jones.
    Jones was killed by a plainclothes police officer after his car broke down on a highway exit ramp around 3a.m. on Sunday morning.
    Lawyers for Jones's family said on Thursday that Jones never fired the handgun he was carrying and was running away at one point.
    Jones was waiting for a tow truck when he was approached by officer Nouman Raja, who was driving an unmarked van, the lawyers told a news conference.
    Hundreds of Jones's supporters held a vigil on Thursday and cast doubt on the police version of events, insisting that Jones, who was a church volunteer, would never cause a confrontation with the police.
    "Everybody knows Corey, and knows Corey would never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever go against the law," said his brother Clinton Jones Jr. during the rally.
    Police say there was a confrontation with Jones, who was carrying a recently purchased handgun, that ended with Jones being shot and killed by Raja, who was on duty investigating a burglary.
    The shooting is the latest in a string of fatal incidents involving police and black men across the United States that have sparked outrage and fueled questions about excessive use of force by officers.
    The family's attorney and community members have been outraged by what they say is a lack of transparency from local police.
    Many questions remain unanswered pending an investigation by local and state law enforcement.
    Raja, who was not injured, has been placed on routine administrative leave with pay. He joined the Palm Beach Gardens police department in April and previously worked for seven years at the police department in a small town south of Palm Beach.
    "For me personally I don't believe what they say he did happened. I believe the story is not right so we're looking for the truth. We want answers and we want justice," said Tyrone Miller, a friend and former football teammate of Jones'.
    Palm Beach Garden police have declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation. Raja gave no comment on Wednesday when approached by a local TV news crew.
    The death is being investigated by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office as well as the state attorney, with the support of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
    Jones' family described him as a responsible gun owner with the proper permits who armed himself to protect expensive drum equipment and cash payments from performances. He often drove home late at night.
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