Church Musician Shot Dead

 

Corey Jones' family was demanding answers after the dedicated church musician was gunned down by a Florida police officer along a dark interstate entrance ramp last Sunday, just hours before he had to be at church to backup the choir.
"I need to know why. Why's my son gone today? Why?" Jones' father, Clinton Jones Sr., pleaded with a cracked voice during a press conference on Thursday.
The Rev. Sylvester Banks Sr., Jones' grandfather and pastor of the Bible Church of God in Boynton Beach, Florida, said the community would be watching closely to see how officials handle the case.
"Just because one policeman corrupts himself, is it right for the rest of the police force to cover it up?" Banks said to a crowd during a rally on Thursday. "If he has done wrong, let him face his wrongdoing."

Jones, a 31-year-old drummer and public housing inspector, was fatally shot by Palm Beach Gardens police officer Nouman Raja around 3:15 a.m. Oct. 18. The officer, wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a baseball cap, was driving an unmarked white van at the time. Raja pulled over to inspect what he thought was an abandoned vehicle on the side of the road.
Jones, who had been waiting for a tow truck on the side of Interstate 95 in Palm Beach County, was in legal possession of a gun during the encounter with Raja, who reportedly did not present his badge to Jones.
Raja fired six shots at Jones, who the officer said had "suddenly confronted" him. Raja reportedly decided to fire his weapon after seeing that Jones was armed. Three of the bullets that left Raja's gun hit the church musician. Jones had a concealed carry permit.