Police Release 911 Call from Night of Corey Jones Shooting

July 06, 2016

The city of Palm Beach Gardens have released the 911 call made by former police Officer Nouman Raja after last year's fatal shooting of Corey Jones on the side of Interstate 95.

Palm Beach Gardens police released the recording from Oct. 18 in response to a nearly nine-month-old records request from the news media, allowing the public to hear the real time conversation between Raja and the 911 operator.

During his 911 call, Officer Nourman Raja must have known Corey Jones had already dropped his gun, according to Palm Beach prosecutors.

Officer Raja phoned 911 about 33 seconds after he had fired his final shot.

And prosecutors said there's sufficient evidence to conclude Raja had kept discharging his firearm at Jones after realizing Jones no longer had a gun.

Authorities said Raja used his personal gun to shoot Jones, because his department-issued gun was in its holster inside the van.

Raja was arrested June 1 on charges of manslaughter by culpable negligence and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm.

He has since been released on $250,000 bond.

Near the start of the call from his personal cellphone, Raja reported he "got one down. I just shot one person." He also said he was calling from an Interstate 95 southbound off ramp at PGA Boulevard where he had parked his unmarked van before approaching Jones.

"Black male wearing all black, dreads, had a silver handgun in his right hand. I came out, I saw him come out with a handgun. I gave him commands. I identified myself and he turned, pointed the gun at me and started running. I shot him," Officer Nourman Raja said, before walking back to the van where he had left his police radio.

The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department who fired the 38-year-old officer less than a month after he killed Jones, noted that before releasing the 911 call, it consulted with the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office.

It also said it edited out a portion of the call where Raja identified himself to the operator, because of the state's public records law.

In the 911 call, Raja went into detail about what exactly took place moments after shooting Jones, but according to Palm Beach prosecutors, everything he said was a lie.

I might point out that these are the same prosecutors, who initially refused to charge officer Raja, and only did so after intense public pressure, protests, and finally a Grand Jury Indictment.

The family points to a different recording called key to Raja's prosecution: Jones' cellphone call to roadside assistance during the 3:15 a.m. shooting.

Prosecutors have not yet released that recording, but they have described its contents and said it helps prove Jones' death resulted from Raja's "culpably negligent actions."

In their report, investigators wrote that Raja did not identify himself as a police officer and he kept shooting, even after a frightened Jones ran away and no longer held his licensed .380-caliber handgun.

Jones' gun was not fired.

Raja, who was working a burglary detail, disobeyed orders by leaving his post, and was in plain clothes when he approached Jones, according to court documents.

Jones was on the phone with roadside assistance. That phone call also recorded the shooting and prosecutors said, it proved that Raja was not telling the truth.

Prosecutors said the roadside assistance call also proves that Raja did not identify himself as a police officer.

The victim’s family attorney released a statement that read in part:

 “Raja’s narrative of what occurred on the early morning hours of October 18th is inconsistent with the objective evidence. As we reflect on the life and legacy of Corey Jones, we continue to zealously pursue all avenues of justice.”

Meanwhile, Corey Jones' family filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against the city of Palm Beach Gardens and Officer Nourman Raja.

The lawsuit claims that the city was negligent and failed to properly train and discipline officers in the use of excessive force. It also claims that Raja "intentionally caused bodily harm" to Jones by using deadly force.

Officer Raja had been on the force only about a year when the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department assigned him to undercover duty.

Raja has pleaded not guilty. His next court date is July 14.