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A popular drummer from Florida was fatally shot by a plainclothes officer on Sunday, leaving the family with many questions about his death.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Corey Jones, 31, wrapped up a performance late Saturday night at a Jupiter bar with his band Future Prezidents. The drummer left the bar around 1:20 a.m. and ended up stranded on the side of the Interstate 95 highway after his car broke down.

Jones called friend and bandmate Mathew Huntsberger, who already made it home. He also called his brother Clinton Jones Jr. Huntsberger arrived on the highway to help Jones with his car, but after pushing the vehicle to side of the road and a failed oil change attempt, Huntsberger went home at 2:30 a.m.

Jones called AT&T Roadside Assistance after Huntsberger left.

What happened next has been disputed by family members and authorities.

Palm Beach Garden officer Nouman Raja reportedly arrived in an unmarked police car 45 minutes later and noticed Jones on the side of the road. After an alleged confrontation, Raja shot Jones. Police say Jones was carrying a weapon in his hand when Raja approached him.

Palm Beach Post reports:

Raja, who was in plain clothes, believed Jones’ vehicle was abandoned and stopped to investigate it, according to a statement released by police Monday afternoon. As Raja exited his vehicle, “he was suddenly confronted by an armed subject,” the statement says.

“As a result of the confrontation,” Raja fatally shot Jones.

https://twitter.com/WPTV/status/656163616165531649/photo/1

Raja’s body was identified Monday afternoon after police confirmed an investigation would be launched. Family and friends took to social media to describe Jones as a peaceful man who played the drums in church every Sunday and was very active in his community.

The New York Daily News reports:

‘When Corey wasn’t playing the drums for me, he was right down the street at his family’s church every single Sunday,’ Benjamin Dixon, a friend of Corey’s told The News. ‘He was a church musician… a church man. He was the most laid back, easy going guy I’ve ever worked with.’

His family plans to hold a vigil at the Bible Church of God in Boynton Beach tonight to honor Jones and demand more answers about the events that transpired before his death. Jones’ brother says the family didn’t hear from authorities until Sunday evening at 6 p.m.

Raja has been placed on paid administrative leave following Jones’ death.

It is unknown if there is footage of Jones’ encounter with Raja, but another encounter between a Black man and a police officer was caught on camera over the weekend.

SOURCE: NewsOnePalm Beach PostThe New York Daily NewsWUSA9 

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This Is Getting Old: Florida Church Musician Fatally Shot By Plainclothes Officer  was originally published on newsone.com

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