PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – A Palm Beach Gardens officer shot and killed Corey Jones, and now his family and friends are demanding justice, while investigators try to figure out what happened and why.
"Just consider your grandchild, if it would have happened to you," Sylvester Banks Sr. said.
Tuesday night, Banks asked others to put themselves in his family's shoes.
"You hear that your grandson is dead," Banks said. "Been shot to death by the people who (are) supposed to protect you."
Family members said Jones, 31, was driving home early Sunday morning when his car broke down on Interstate 95 near PGA Boulevard. Palm Beach Gardens police said Officer Nouman Raja was working an undercover detail in the area and stopped to investigate what he thought was an abandoned car.
"As the officer exited his vehicle he was suddenly confronted by an armed subject," Chief Stephen Stepp of Palm Beach Gardens Police said. "As a result of the confrontation, the officer discharged his firearm, resulting in the death of Mr. Corey Jones."
High-powered civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing Jones' family, appeared on CNN's morning show Wednesday attacking the officer's actions.
"Corey Jones was on the side of the road at 3 a.m. waiting for a tow truck, and what he needed from police was a helping hand and all he got was bullets," Crump said. "He doesn't know if this is a police officer or not. His family believes he went to his grave not knowing who this person was. We don't know home many times he was shot. "
Jones' loved ones gathered Monday night at the Bible Church of God in Boynton Beach, where Jones played the drums in a church band. His grandfather also serves as a bishop at the church. They plan to hold another prayer service Wednesday evening.
Friends said Jones was heading back from playing a gig when he had car trouble and was waiting on a tow truck.
Jones' friend, Mathew Huntsberger, said he went to help him with his stalled out car. After trying to fix the car themselves, and even calling other services to assist, Huntsberger said he left. Sometime later, Raja pulled up in an unmarked car and wearing plain clothes.
"Last time I saw him, I gave him a high-five and said, 'Get home safe,'" Huntsberger said. "I found out Monday morning all that stuff went down and I was just completely shocked. I'd never seen him even raise his voice, let alone, you know, the accusations the cops are saying. I can't even comprehend that that would be possible."
Police said investigators found a gun at the scene and a box for the gun in the car.
"The handgun was found on the ground, outside the vehicle," Stepp said. "Palm Beach County sheriff's detectives have located paperwork showing Mr. Jones purchased the handgun three days before the officer-involved shooting."
Jones' grandfather and Huntsberger said they didn't know he owned a gun.
Jones worked as an inspector for the Delray Housing Authority, and those who knew him described him as a calm person and not confrontational.
"He was one of those people that when you met him, you were instantly comfortable him," Huntsberger said.
Zack Bates, who knew Jones for four years, said he's in shock and that Jones never got mad about anything and was "level-headed."
"It's completely out of character," Bates said. "I would never expect anything like what I've heard so far to be involved one bit with Corey Jones."
A spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Scott's office said the governor has spoken with FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and State Attorney Dave Aronberg to "offer the assistance of FDLE in the two ongoing investigations by the state attorney's office and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office."
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