The Latest: Family of dead musician sues officer, department

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Latest on the shooting of a legally armed black musician by a police officer (all times local):

4 p.m.

The father of a legally armed black musician who was killed by a Florida police officer is suing the officer and his department.

The father of Corey Jones filed the state lawsuit Wednesday against since-fired Officer Nouman Raja and the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit by Clinton Jones Sr. claims Raja used excessive force when he shot Jones on Oct. 18 and that the department failed to properly train him.

State prosecutors have charged Raja with manslaughter, alleging that the undercover officer didn’t identify himself before shooting Jones, who had been heading home from a performance when his SUV broke down on a highway off ramp. Raja shot the 31-year-old Jones during a confrontation after the officer stopped to investigate what he thought was a possibly abandoned vehicle.

Raja is of South Asian descent. Neither his attorneys nor the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department immediately responded to phone calls and emails requesting comment.

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11 a.m.

An officer charged with manslaughter for shooting a legally armed black musician yelled for him to put down his gun “right now” just before he told a 911 operator he had shot a man and needed assistance.

Palm Beach Gardens police on Wednesday released a recording of the call officer Nouman Raja placed after he shot 31-year-old Corey Jones before dawn Oct. 18. Jones’ SUV had broken down on an Interstate 95 off ramp when Raja pulled up.

Raja uses an expletive in the recording as he tells Jones to put down the gun. Raja tells the operator to send help because he had lost sight of Jones. He says he shot Jones after Jones pointed his gun.

Prosecutors charged Raja last month. They said Raja’s 911 statements are contradicted by a recording of Jones talking to a tow truck operator just before he was shot. They said Raja’s 911 call happened 30 seconds after Raja fired his last shot.