New questions raised in Florida police shooting of Corey Jones

[davidn3600]

A plainclothes police officer who fatally shot a stranded motorist in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 10 days ago, apparently wasn’t qualified for his undercover surveillance assignment, according to documents obtained by Yahoo News.

The victim, Corey Jones, 31, a public-housing inspector and part-time musician, was waiting for a tow truck about 3:15 a.m. on Oct. 18 when he was shot multiple times by Palm Beach Gardens officer Nouman Raja.

Palm Beach Gardens chief Stephen Stepp said Raja, 38, told them he was “suddenly confronted by an armed subject” and fatally shot Jones.

Jones was licensed to carry a concealed gun and likely never knew he was being confronted by a police officer, said Benjamin Crump, a civil rights attorney who has represented the families of several slain African-Americans including Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.

Raja, who pulled up in an unmarked van and got out wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a ball cap, never displayed his badge, Crump said last week after Florida’s 15th judicial circuit state attorney briefed him and the Jones family.

Chief Stepp told reporters last week that Raja, who was in his sixth month with the department, had been conducting surveillance on suspected burglaries.

But the department’s written procedures, obtained by Yahoo News through the Florida open records law, require that surveillance operations be carried out by tactical officers or detectives. As a new hire, Raja was still on probationary status and assigned to patrol. Nothing in his personnel file indicates other duties.

http://news.yahoo.com/corey-jones-death-new-questions-about-the-latest-police-shooting-in-florida-215620083.html

Raja fired 6 shots, Jones never fired his gun. Jones' body was 80-100 feet away from the car and the gun found in between the car and body.

[marym625]

1. honestly can't believe this keeps happening.

This cop should be in jail, like all the rest of them that murder or beat innocent people.

[valerief]

2. It was straight-out murder, nothing else. nt

[1939]

3. Not sure it was that

1. Unqualified officer alone on patrol.

2. Plain clothes officer in unmarked car checking out parked car on the highway.

3. No ID as police.

4. Corey Jones thought he was going to be attacked by someone (not knowing it was police).

5. Corey Jones with gun in hand shot by policeman.

I see gross negligence by the department which led to the shooting.

I see gross negligence by the undercover cop which led to the shooting.

I do not see first or second degree murder or manslaughter.

I see a slam dunk civil case but not a criminal case.

[valerief]

4. Sounds like murder to me. nt