Police say Corey Jones was carrying gun he purchased legally

Washington Post ^

[Altariel]

Officals in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., said Tuesda evening that 31-year-old Corey Jones, a well-known area musician, was carrying a gun he had purchased legally just three days earlier when he was shot and killed by a police officer early Sunday morning.

Jones was killed after his car broke down on an Interstate 95 off-ramp while he was driving home after his band played a Saturday night gig. After calling his brother and a bandmate, who came to Jones and attempted to help fix his car, Jones waited alone for a tow truck to arrive.

Around 3:15 a.m., Jones was encountered by Palm Beach Gardens police Officer Nouman Raja, who was in plainclothes in an unmarked car. Police say that Raja believed he was investigating an abandoned vehicle.

“As the officer investigated his vehicle he was suddenly confronted by an armed suspect,” Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Stephen Stepp told reporters on Tuesday evening.

But details of what exactly occurred during that “confrontation” remain scarce. It remains unclear if Raja identified himself as a police officer, if he was carrying his badge, what if any words were exchanged between the two men and how many shots were fired at Jones. The vehicle Raja was driving was not outfitted with a dash camera, and officers with the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department do not wear body cameras.

Stepp said that Jones was carrying a handgun, which was found outside of the vehicle, and that the gun’s box and paperwork from its purchase just three days earlier were located inside of Jones’ vehicle.

[thefactor]

"...when is it good practice for undercover officers to investigate abandoned cars?" (Technically this was a plainclothes officer, not undercover.)

But to answer your question, it's not.

[cuban leaf]

Exactly.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

And to not identify oneself as a police officer while approaching with weapon drawn?

.....and what if he WASN'T a police officer? (Unmarked car, your car broken down and a man approaching with gun drawn? What would YOU do? The cop could have been the victim on this one).

[1Old Pro]

Not implying anything, but when is it good practice for undercover officers to investigate abandoned cars?

Good point, couldn't he call it in?

[dila813]

Sounds suspicious....

[NorthMountain]

Calling backup in the form of a uniform and a black-and-white would be the intelligent thing to do. An honest armed citizen will NOT see that as a lethal threat. Quite the contrary, in fact.

The cop acted stupidly and recklessly, putting himself in a situation wherein a reasonable person would see him as a deadly threat.

Then he killed a citizen.

What do we call that, under the law?

[barefoot_hiker]

Most people would be wary/on high alert if stuck on the side of a freeway late at night. A ripe target for passing thugs looking for easy pickings. At that hour, anything other than a tow truck or cop car pulls up, any sane person would have a hand on their sidearm.

[JimRed]

...and what if he WASN'T a police officer? (Unmarked car, your car broken down and a man approaching with gun drawn? What would YOU do? The cop could have been the victim on this one).

Walking into a gun-drawn situation without a call for backup? Does not smell right.

[JimRed]

What do we call that, under the law?

Negligent homicide?

[Leaning Right]

If the cop is not in uniform, and his vehicle does not have blue and red cop-lights, then he should be forbidden to approach motorists, who can quite reasonably think he's a robber.

That's the bottom line right there! This citizen's death was caused by the cop's negligent actions. The citizen's family should file a huge lawsuit. And if I were the DA, I'd look into charging the cop.

[time4good]

We don’t get too many visibly armed black guys in PBG - that’s more prevalent down in WPB. (just stating the ‘stereotype’ - what probably was going through officer’s head). PBG is fairly quiet - low percentage of violent crimes. With that said - I think it was a bad reaction by the officer - overreaction (ya think?) and ended tragically. The stupid part of this tragedy is that it plays well into the Obama/Confiscators/Liam Neeson/Julianne Moore/Al Sharpton meme that it’s going to become a circus down here very shortly.

[Iscool]

None whatsoever. Most likely, the officer approached with gun drawn and Mr. Jones thought he was about to be robbed or murdered.

Exactly...The cop should have called a marked car...He was off duty, probably saw an opportunity to pick up some unscheduled overtime pay...Negligence on his part...And it doesn't say if the cop was drunk...They probably never checked...

[Bulwyf]

I think the word you’re looking for is ‘murder’.

[Forgotten Amendments]

When I lived there, I hated 95 at night. The rest stops were downright scary. Would opt for the Turnpike when possible.

Of course, that was over a decade ago. I didn’t even have a cell phone. It might be better now.

25-35 years ago the cop could be excused for expecting the car to be a drug mule. But, I gather those days are over.

[Forgotten Amendments]

Article says no dash cam cuz it was an unmarked cop car.

Why can't an unmarked car have a dash cam? A lot of people have one. Just about every car in Russia has one (to combat crooked cops, BTW). Sounds awfully convenient.

[Altariel]

Wonder if the officer was looking for “unclaimed possessions of some value” when he was confronted by the owner?

Dead men tell no tales.