PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA (AP) – A South Florida city has reached a USD2 million settlement with the family of a Black motorist who was fatally shot by a police officer after his vehicle broke down on an interstate off-ramp more than seven years ago.
The city of Palm Beach Gardens released a statement saying it had reached a settlement on Thursday through mediation with the family of Corey Jones. The settlement is for the full amount covered by the city’s insurance policy, which the insurance carrier has offered to pay since 2016, according to the city’s statement.
Fired Palm Beach Gardens Officer Nouman Raja was convicted of manslaughter and attempted murder in 2019 and sentenced to 25 years in prison for the October 2015 killing of Jones. Prosecutors contended Raja escalated what should have been a routine interaction into a deadly confrontation with Jones.
Raja had told investigators he fired after Jones pulled a gun on him, but an audiotape of their encounter led prosecutors and jurors to believe Raja instigated their altercation.
