The Florida police officer who shot and killedCorey Jones,a Black motorist who was waiting for a tow truck on the side of a highway last month, has been fired, the city of Palm Beach Gardens said Thursday, and a criminal investigation is ongoing.
Jones, 31, was a well-known drummer for his church band and was returning home from a gig when his car broke down on South Florida’s Interstate 95 at around 3 a.m. on October 18. While he waited in his car for roadside assistance to arrive, the police officer, Nouman Raja, pulled up in an unmarked van and not wearing a police uniform.
Immediately following the incident, the police department described the events in a now-deleted post on the department’s Facebook page: “As the officer exited his vehicle, he was suddenly confronted by an armed subject. As a result of the confrontation, the officer discharged his firearm, resulting in the death of the subject.”