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A former police officer in Florida was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of the shooting of a driver whose car was down.
Constituency Judge Joseph Marx on Thursday sentenced Nouman Raja, a 41-year-old Palm Beach Gardens officer, who was convicted of killing 31-year-old Corey Jones on October 18, 2015.
"It has been a heartbreaking affair," said Marx. "I think it had a profound effect on every person who witnessed this trial."
Nouman Raja listens to Deputy Attorney General Adrienne Ellis at his sentencing hearing on Thursday, April 25, 2019, in West Palm Beach, Florida (Associated Press)
Prosecutors said Jones, a member of a reggae band, was returning home after a performance in a nightclub when he stopped by the roadside after his car fell Out of order.
Raja, who wore plain clothes and was driving an unidentified white van as part of a burglar investigation team, approached Jones but never really identified as a police officer, prosecutors said.
Jones had a concealed weapons license and was carrying a handgun.
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At the time of the meeting, Jones was on the phone talking to a tow truck dispatcher. The call was recorded. But the police were not initially aware of the registration.
"You are good?" We hear the policeman ask Jones.
"Yeah," Jones replies.
Suddenly, Raja yells at Jones to raise his hands using an expletive. Jones replies, "Wait!" and Raja repeats his request.
Prosecutors think Jones took his gun and tried to run away, Raja fired three times and Jones went down an embankment.
Jones then launched his weapon, but Raja fired three more times, 10 seconds after the first round. According to prosecutors, one of the bullets pierced the heart of Jones and others, in both arms.
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Prosecutors said that Raja, not knowing the registration of the tow truck dispatcher, had tried to deceive the investigators. He said he said, "Police, can I help you?" as Jones jumped off the SUV. He also told them that Jones had jumped back and pointed his gun, forcing the officer to shoot. Raja said that Jones had run but had returned and again pointed his gun, forcing the officer to perform the second end.
Raja was charged with manslaughter and attempted murder. His conviction marks the first time in 30 years that a Florida law enforcement officer has been convicted and sentenced for a murder committed on duty.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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