A plainclothes officer shot Corey Jones – and nobody knows why

“We have confirmed that Corey never fired his gun”, said Benjamin L. Crump, a lawyer for Mr. Jones’s family, citing information he said had been provided by the state attorney. Instead, “he was suddenly confronted by an armed subject” and fatally shot 31-year-old Corey Jones, Stepp said.

Jones was licensed to carry a weapon and bought his first gun about a year-and-a-half ago to protect himself because he often played late-night gigs and carried a lot of expensive equipment, his sister Melissa Jones, 29, said.

Family friend Vince Wilfork, a future Hall of Famer and current Houston Texans defensive lineman, said he plans on gathering with Jones’ family on Saturday, the day before the Texans face the Miami Dolphins. “He told me I should go ahead and get a concealed weapon because I have clients going in and out of my house and I don’t know them”. I have money that I am dealing with.

Jones, 31, was on his way home after playing drums early Sunday when his vehicle stalled along Interstate 95, his family told CNN affiliate WPTV-TV in West Palm Beach. But as Raja approached, Stepp said, “he was suddenly confronted by an armed subject”. Reporter: Officer raja is now on paid leave.

Crump, who is representing the Jones family, shared details of the investigation after a meeting with state attorney Dave Aronberg Thursday morning.

“Corey probably got scared”, his uncle Fred Banks said. “This is troubling on so many levels…”

This incident could also serve as a catalyst for change when it comes to plainclothes police officers, Crump said, pointing to cases in South Florida of people who’ve impersonated law enforcement. Crump also said that six shots were fired at Jones, but Jones never fired his weapon.

Police say the handgun found at the scene was purchased by Jones three days earlier.

Jones was approached by Officer Nouman Raja, who was wearing plain clothes and driving an unmarked auto. Jones’ gun was not next to him when he died about 80 to 100 feet from his auto, having at a few point tried to run away, according to the Jones family’s lawyers. The friend left and Jones called a tow truck, which hadn’t arrived when Raja pulled up. What happened in the moments before are unknown.

Authorities have not released their complete account of the confrontation between Jones and Raja. His family outraged, now saying the officer never showed his badge. “Never. This is not like him”. He called his brother repeatedly that morning but couldn’t reach him.

And if the president of the police union is critical about the lack of answers, Jones’s friends and family members are even more pissed off. “No disrespect to Black Lives Matter, but all lives matter”. “This is not a black thing. I didn’t see color”.

Voctor Norfus attend a rally for Corey Jones on Thursday, October 22, 2015. In all, Jones suffered five wounds (some of them exit wounds). Tinsley said she watched the rally and listened to every speaker. He describes his son as responsible and giving and told of his passion for drumming. “I heard something tapping and it was him inside beating on the pots and pans”. “Keep his memory alive because he was a great guy”.

“The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is conducting this investigation, therefore our knowledge of the exact circumstances surrounding the incident are limited”, Stepp said.

As the attorneys spoke to the media, several hundred people gathered for a rally outside the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department.

“We need answers”, said Jones Jr., a former National Football League player. The drummer’s family thinks it could have been a case of mistaken identity and Jones may have thought he had to defend himself. Together, they sat laughing as they ate baked chicken, vegetables, and Jones’ favorite food, macaroni and cheese.

“He was the person who could bring the softest part out of the hardest person”, Jones said tearfully. And they want to know why. “We really deserve justice”.