Family And Friends Of Corey Jones Hold Benefit Concert
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LAKE WORTH (CBSMiami) – The FBI joined investigators from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Saturday, looking into the death of Corey Jones at the hands of a police officer.
Meanwhile, Saturday night ended on a more positive note with a benefit concert honoring jones at the Bamboo Room in downtown Lake Worth. Part of the proceeds go toward helping the Jones family.
Corey Jones was a musician who, by all accounts, was well-known and much-loved in Palm Beach County.
Ivonne Marquez and her husband knew of Jones and wanted to show support by going to the show.
"Corey was a nice kid and he played the drums and he would play them at different churches," Marquez told CBS4 reporter Donna Rapado. "This was a no brainer. Someone told us about it so my husband and I came."
Jones's band "Future Prezidents" was one of several already set to play the reggae show long before Jones was shot and killed one week ago.
"I just think it's tragic. I don't even, it leaves me speechless the whole thing," fellow musician Chris Colemen struggled to say.
Another musician, Chris Montague, choked back tears.
"It's just a tragedy. I really admire the family for the way they've reacted to everything. And I hope for the best," said Montague.
Good friend and bandmate Boris Simeonov told Rapado he waved goodbye to Jones after their last gig in Jupiter shortly before he was killed. Simeonov described the last week since Jones was shot by Palm Beach Gardens police officer Nouman Raja as very frustrating and emotional.
"And then I gathered myself and said you know, 'what would Corey want us to do,'" said Simeonov. "And I decided that he'd want us to testify to his character and talk about the real pressing social issue that will help make this land we call the United States better for everyone."
The FBI and sheriff's investigators scoured the area near the I-95 exit ramp to PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens. That's where Naja fired his gun at Jones six times, hitting him three times.
The state attorney's office later told Jones' family Officer Raja was on duty but in plain clothes and an unmarked van. He pulled up to Jones' stalled vehicle as Jones waited for roadside assistance at about 3 a.m. Sunday, October 18.
Investigators found Jones' own gun on the ground several feet from his body. It was not fired.
