Palm Beach Gardens police officer Nouman Raja had no idea he was being audio recorded when he pulled up to Corey Jones at 3 a.m. on the side of the road last year and killed him.
But it was that audio recording that led to his indictment today where he is now facing life in prison.
And he deserves nothing less.
Corey Jones played in a band called the Future Presidentz.
He not only pulled up to Jones in an unmarked vehicle wearing plainclothes on October 18, 2015, he never identified himself as an officer.
And as we’ve seen so many times before, he rewrote the narrative as to what led to the shooting when he called 911 minutes after killing Jones.
But Jones, a 31-year-old drummer who had broken down on the side of an off-ramp on Interstate 95, was on the phone with a tow truck dispatcher when Raja pulled up.
And we all know those calls are always recorded for “quality assurance.”
But the recording became quality evidence against Raja.
Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Stephen Stepp welcoming Nouman Raja as an officer in April 2015, who would later kill Corey Jones.
The grand jury indicted Raja on one count of manslaughter by culpable negligence, a second-degree felony that carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, as well as one count of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, which can send him to prison for life.
Perhaps the legal experts will explain how a cold-blooded murder can turn into attempted murder, but if it lands him in prison for life, then it’s all good.
Raja had claimed he was in fear for his life, of course, claiming Jones pulled out a gun on him after he had identified himself as a police officer.
He even said Jones had charged him. Textbook police fiction from the cop with a history of disciplinary problems who was also a certified firearms instructor.
But forensics indicate Jones was running from Raja as he was being shot.
The recording, which became the key piece of evidence against Raja, captured the following exchange, according to the charging documents, which you can read here.
Jones: Huh?
Raja: You good?
Jones: I’m good
Raja: Really?
Jones: Yeah, I’m good.
Raja: Really?
Jones: Yeah
Raja: Get your fucking hands up! Get your fucking hands up!
Jones: Hold on!
Raja: Get your fucking hands up! Drop!
Raja then fired three time, causing the dispatcher to gasp, “oh my gosh!”
And he fired three more shots ten seconds later.
He then called 911 and before the dispatcher could respond, he said, “drop that fucking gun right now.”
And then he stated the following:
“I came out, I saw him come out with a handgun. I gave him commands, I identified myself, and he turned, pointed the gun at me, and started running. I shot him.”
Raja has been taken into custody.
UPDATE: Below is the legal explanation as to why Raja was charged with attempted murder even though it is clear he murdered Jones.
Corey Jones Did Not Fire a Single Shot While Florida Cop With Disciplinary History Fired Six
Corey Jones’ Last Call May Have Recorded His Own Shooting Death by Palm Beach Gardens Cop
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