Florida police fire officer who fatally shot black musician Corey Jones

The Florida police officer who shot and killed Corey Jones, who had been waiting for help alongside a highway after his car broke down last month, has been fired, a Palm Beach Gardens spokeswoman said Thursday.

The officer, Nouman Raja, 38, had been on administrative leave from the city's police force since shooting Jones on Oct. 18. Jones' death prompted outrage after law enforcement officials revealed Raja was in plainclothes and never showed a badge.

The death of Jones, 31, an amateur musician, is the latest fatal incident in the country involving police and black men. It has sparked anger and calls for greater transparency, as local law enforcement officials have been slow releasing details about the shooting.

Jones was waiting for a tow truck beside a highway off-ramp at 3 a.m. when Raja pulled up in an unmarked van. A confrontation ensued, and Raja fired six shots, hitting Jones three times, authorities said.

Jones never fired the .380 caliber handgun recovered at the scene, according to the Palm Beach County state attorney’s office. He had a permit allowing him to carry a concealed gun, which he purchased legally three days earlier.

Raja, who was hired by the police department of upscale Palm Beach Gardens in April, had been investigating robberies in the area.

Telephone records obtained by The Palm Beach Post show that Jones was on a 53-minute phone call with AT&T roadside assistance at the time of the shooting.

Reuters