Police union defends ex-cop in shooting of man waiting for tow
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The police union defended a former officer charged in the fatal shooting of a legally armed black man, saying they believe the officer identified himself before the confrontation.
Former Palm Beach Gardens officer Nouman Raja has been charged with manslaughter and attempted murder in the Oct. 18 death of Corey Jones. Raja's bail was set at $250,000 during his first court appearance Thursday.
Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association President John Kazanjian said the union believes Raja, who was fired after the shooting, identified himself before confronting Jones on an Interstate 95 ramp before dawn.
Charging documents however said Raja did not identify himself before opening fire. Audio of the fatal encounter was captured because Jones was on the phone with roadside assistance at the time of the shooting, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Jones' SUV had broken down on an Interstate 95 off ramp before dawn. He had gotten out and called for a tow truck when Raja pulled up in an unmarked white cargo van, wearing jeans, sneakers, a T-shirt and a cap. Raja, who is of South Asian descent, was in civilian clothes while investigating a string of burglaries.
Authorities initially indicated that Jones and Raja had apparently pulled guns on each other. Raja fired six shots, hitting Jones three times. Jones never fired.
Jones was on a call with an AT&T roadside assistance dispatcher during the fatal encounter, according to the probable cause affidavit. In the call, which was outlined in the affidavit, Raja is heard asking "You good?" to Jones, and then, "Really?" several times, to which Jones replies, "I'm good."
Raja is then heard saying, "Get your [expletive] hands up! Get your [expletive] hands up!"
Jones replies, "Hold on!"
Raja is then heard saying, "Get your [expletive hands up! Drop!" before firing three shots in rapid succession, "immediately after he uttered the word, 'Drop,'" the documents say.
After about 10 seconds, Raja is heard firing three more shots "more deliberately, one shot per second," the documents say.
Three of the bullets struck Jones, the fatal one hitting him in the chest. The documents say Jones was fleeing and that Raja "continued to fire at Jones as he ran away," with some bullets striking Jones from behind.
"There is no question Jones ran away from Raja," the documents say.
The affidavit alleges Raja told officers Jones threw his gun, and that Raja knew Jones no longer had a gun as he continued to fire.
A sergeant had instructed Raja to wear a police vest while on the burglary surveillance assignment "for safety reasons" and "to identify yourself as a police officer," the documents say, but the vest was on the van's floorboard next to the driver's seat when the shooting occurred.
The affidavit says Raja wasn't identifiable as a police officer and approached Jones' vehicle in a "tactically unsound, unsafe and grossly negligent manner," driving the wrong way up a south-bound ramp.
"A reasonable person can only assume the thoughts and concerns Corey Jones was experiencing as he saw the van approaching him at the hour of the morning," the affidavit says.
The documents also indicate Raja apparently lied to a 911 operator to make it appear that Jones was still armed and a threat more than 30 seconds after he had been felled by the officer's bullets. After the shooting, Raja allegedly called 911 on his personal cell phone. The documents say he could be heard yelling "Drop that [expletive] gun right now!" before the dispatcher could answer. He then allegedly told the dispatcher he had shot a person.
"I came out, I saw him come out with a handgun," Raja said, according to the documents. "I gave him commands. I identified myself and he turned, pointed a gun at me, and started running. I shot him."
Jones' body was later found 192 feet behind his vehicle. Jones' .380 handgun was found about 72 feet behind it, the documents say. Prosecutors say in their charging document that given the distance between the gun and Jones' body - and the heart wound that would have incapacitated him - they believe Raja fired the last three shots after he knew Jones had thrown down his gun and was running away.
The grand jury determined that Raja's use of force was "unjustified." If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.
Jones had a concealed weapons permit and was legally allowed to carry the gun. His family said he carried a gun because he was hauling expensive equipment.
Jones' family said in a statement that relatives were relieved to learn of the arrest.
"While we understand that nothing can bring back our son, brother and friend, this arrest sends a message that this conduct will not be tolerated from members of law enforcement," the statement said.