Cop that murdered Black man has testimony that doesn’t match evidence

Justice on the horizon for the 2015's murder of Corey Jones by Nouman Raja

Former South Florida police officer Nouman Raja's story about killing a stranded Black motorist did not match up with a new recording of the confrontation found on victim's phone.

Brianna Rhodes

Feb 27, 2019

Corey Jone's funeral thegrio.com — Photo by Damon Higgins-Pool/Getty Images

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Chris Karpinski informed jurors on Wednesday, that evidence relating to a former South Florida police officer Nouman Raja‘s story about killing a stranded Black motorist did not match up with the officer’s original interview after the shooting.

According to Local 10, Karpinski said that there were massive discrepancies in the initial statements made by Raja than that which was recently found on an audio recording five days after the 2015 shooting.

The audio recording revealed an altercation between the former Palm Beach Gardens police officer and the victim, Corey Jones, 31. It was found from a phone call that Jones made to a tow truck dispatch center. The jurors listened to the audio on Tuesday during the first day of testimonies in the case.

Raja, 41, shot and killed Jones, while Jones was stranded on the side of an Interstate 95 exit ramp after his SUV had broken down.

Raja’s attorneys claim that any inconsistencies between the interview and the shooting audio were due to stress. They further stated that Raja did not have any intentions to lie or mislead.

After the shooting, Raja informed Karpinski and other detectives that he was “participating in a plain-clothes investigation of auto burglaries,” when he approached Jones’ SUV on a ramp off of the highway at 3:15 a.m.

Raja said as he was coming closer to the car and Jones jumped out, yelling, “I’m good, I’m good.” Raja, replied, “Police, can I help you?” dressed in a T-shirt, jeans and cap, showing no signs that he was the police.

This confrontation led Jones to point a gun at Raja, causing him to do the same and firing at the victim.

Raja told investigators, “I didn’t want to die.” He was unsure if he hit Jones, but followed him as he ran, pointing his gun at him and also calling 911. Raja said as he was on his phone, Jones pointed his gun again.

As a response, the former police officer and police firearms instructor fired shots at Jones’ chest.

The tow truck dispatch recording reveals that Raja’s stories didn’t jive. Based on the new recording, prosecutors say that “a different sequence of events” took place on that early morning.

In fact, they said Raja’s actions made Jones think he was being robbed, which led Jones (who had a concealed weapons permit) to pull his gun.

Raja was never heard revealing himself as a cop, either.

After the shooting, Raja was fired from the police department and he has been on house arrest since being charged in June 2016.