A Black man, Leonard Allan Cure, who had his armed robbery conviction vacated after serving 16 years in prison, was fatally shot by a Georgia sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop. The incident is under investigation.
A Black man, Leonard Allan Cure, was tragically shot and killed by a Georgia sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop. Cure had served 16 years in prison for an armed robbery conviction that was later overturned.
The incident occurred on Monday morning along Interstate 95 in Camden County near the Florida border. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported that an altercation took place between Cure and the deputy, resulting in the fatal shooting. The circumstances leading up to the altercation are still unclear.
This tragic encounter happened exactly 20 years after Cure’s arrest for armed robbery and assault at a Walgreen’s store in Dania Beach, Florida. Cure was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. However, in December 2019, Cure asked a review board to re-investigate his case based on new evidence and questions about his identification as a suspect. After the investigation, a judge vacated his convictions and dropped the charges.
Cure’s case was supported by the Innocence Project of Florida, a nonprofit organization that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals. Cure was described as a hardworking individual with aspirations of attending college for music production. He was on his way to visit his mother in south Florida when the tragic incident occurred.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation stated that the deputy informed Cure that he was under arrest during the traffic stop. However, Cure did not comply with the deputy’s requests and allegedly assaulted him. The deputy reportedly used a Taser and a baton to subdue Cure before resorting to using his gun.
Camden County Sheriff Jim Proctor has requested an investigation into the incident by the state bureau. The details surrounding the traffic stop and the reasons for Cure’s arrest are still under investigation.
This tragic incident highlights the ongoing issues of police violence and racial profiling in America. It serves as a reminder of the urgent need for police reform and the importance of addressing systemic racism within law enforcement agencies..