Florida cop using 'stand your ground' defense in trial for killing stranded black motorist
An attorney defending a former Florida police officer charged with the 2015 killing of a stranded black motorist called the shooting "a tragedy" caused by a "perfect storm."
Richard Lubin told jurors Tuesday that fired Palm Beach Gardens officer Nouman Raja shot Corey Jones because Jones pointed a gun at him twice and he feared for his life. He said Raja could clearly see Jones' gun along the darkened highway off-ramp because of light reflecting off the barrel.
Earlier, prosecutor Brian Fernandes said in his opening statement that Raja was an "angel of death" whose actions escalated the confrontation, causing the 31-year-old Jones to believe he was a robber and pull his legally possessed handgun.
Raja was working in plain clothes when he drove his unmarked white van the wrong way up the Interstate 95 ramp. Prosecutors say an audiotape shows the 41-year-old Raja never identified himself as a police officer.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/florida-cop-using-stand-your-ground-defense-in-trial-for-killing-stranded-black-motorist/ar-BBU6xKF?li=BBnb7Kz