Victim’s final words: ‘Hold on’

Stranded along a highway off-ramp in the middle of the night, Corey Jones can be heard pleading, “Hold on. Hold on.”

For the first time, the public on Tuesday could listen to the final words the drummer spoke at 3:15 a.m. Oct. 18, 2015, just before he was shot to death by thenplainclothes Palm Beach Gardens Police Officer Nouman Raja.

The recording of Jones’ call to a roadside assistance service — which captured both Jones and Raja’s dialogue before the sounds of five gunshots — is among documents and audio/video evidence released by the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, in response to public records requests.

Raja, 39, is charged in state court with manslaughter by culpable negligence and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm.

The death of the 31-year-old Boynton Beach man, whose SUV broke down after a band performance, sparked national attention at a time when police use of force, especially involving black men, has been under scrutiny.

“It’s important we finally got the information,” Daryl D. Parks, whose Tallahassee law firm is representing Jones’ father, told the Sun Sentinel, noting the importance of the roadside call recording.

A Delray Beach city housing inspector and parttime musician, Jones was driving home after a gig in Jupiter when his SUV broke down about 1:30 a.m.

About 3:15 a.m., Raja pulled up in an unmarked cargo van, and stepped out, wearing plain clothes.

Jones’ loved ones and their attorneys have pointed to his call with the AT&T roadside assistance operator as the key toward both arresting the former officer and prosecuting him. Parks, with attorney Benjamin Crump, has said the call makes it clear that Raja, wearing plain clothes, never identified himself as a police officer.

An FBI transcript of the call was released Tuesday. Jones was on hold for more than 26 minutes before he was connected with operator Madeleine Tolliver.

Jones provided his phone number and other basic information, and the dispatcher asked, “What’s wrong with the vehicle?”

Jones replied in a calm voice, “Um, it won’t start.”

About two minutes later, as loud chimes from an open car door are heard on the recording, Jones said, “Huh?” as Raja approached him.

“I'm good. Yeah, I’m good,” Jones said.

“Really?” Raja responded. “Yeah,” Jones said.

At that point, Raja begins screaming, “Get your f-----hands up! Get your f-----hands up!”

“Hold on! Hold on!” Jones insists.

“Get your f------ hands up! Drop!” Raja said.

Within the next two seconds, two gunshots are heard on the recording. Jones never fired his licensed .380-caliber handgun, according to Raja’s arrest report.

“Oh my gosh,” Tolliver said after hearing the shots.

After about 10 seconds, Raja fired three more shots “more deliberately” at one shot every second.

Prosecutors have said at least one of those shots was fired as a “frightened” Jones ran away, based on the recording and a review of the evidence. A grand jury has found the use of force was unjustified.

Raja fired a total of six shots from his personal .40-caliber Glock pistol, hitting Jones three times, according to prosecutors. A medical examiner’s report states Jones died from a gunshot wound to the chest, and he also had bullet wounds in both arms.

Raja remains on house arrest, permitted to work in a non-law enforcement job but required to wear a GPS ankle monitor to track his movements, under the terms of a $250,000 bond.

Circuit Judge Samantha Schosberg Feuer said she would like the case to come to trial in the summer.

Richard Lubin, Raja’s lead criminal defense attorney, could not be reached for comment Tuesday despite a call to his cellphone and a request via email.

Another key piece of evidence is a 911 call by Raja about 33 seconds after he fired his final shot. The recording was released last July by Palm Beach Gardens Police.

As the audio begins, Raja yells an expletive and is heard screaming for a man to drop the “gun right now!”

Prosecutors have said Raja must have realized Jones had already dropped his gun, but kept discharging his firearm anyway.

Palm Beach Gardens Police Officer Nouman Raja fired a total of six shots from his .40-caliber Glock pistol, hitting Corey Jones three times, according to prosecutors.

PALM BEACH COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE/COURTESY Corey Jones, who had a licensed firearm the night of his encounter with an officer, never fired his .380-caliber handgun, according to the arrest report.