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Killing of Leonard Cure

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Killing of Leonard Cure
FDOC mug shot of Leonard Cure c. 2020
DateOctober 16, 2023 (2023-10-16)
LocationCamden County, Georgia, U.S.
TypePolice shooting
ParticipantsLeonard Cure and Sheriff's Deputy Buck Aldridge
DeathsLeonard Cure, 53
InquiriesGeorgia Bureau of Investigation

On October 16, 2023, Leonard Cure, a 53-year-old black American man, was fatally shot during a physical struggle by Sheriff's Deputy Buck Aldridge in Camden County, Georgia, after being pulled over for speeding. Cure had been exonerated in 2020 after being wrongfully convicted of armed robbery in Florida in 2003.[1][2]

Background

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Leonard Cure (November 23, 1969[3] – October 16, 2023) was wrongfully convicted of armed robbery in 2003. On November 10, 2003, an armed robbery took place in Dania Beach, Florida, when a man with a revolver forced his way into a Walgreens store. The suspect fled the store with nearly $2,000 in cash. Descriptions of the suspect provided by two store employees did not match. In 2004, a mistrial for Cure was declared after the jury deadlocked. Cure was tried again, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison.[4]

The Florida Innocence Project conducted an investigation and found that an ATM receipt proved Cure had been miles away from the store during the time of the robbery. In April 2020, Cure was exonerated and released from prison.[5] Cure received $817,000 in compensation for his imprisonment. He was the first person to be exonerated by the Broward County Conviction Review Unit.[6]

Shooting

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On Monday, October 16, 2023, at around 7:30 a.m., Cure was observed speeding in a pickup truck on Interstate 95 in Camden County, Georgia, by Sheriff's Deputy Buck Aldridge. Aldridge pursued Cure and pulled him over to the side of the road. Aldridge instructed Cure to exit his vehicle and move to the back of it. While Cure complied with exiting the vehicle, he refused to walk to the rear and place his hands on the back of the truck. Aldridge warned Cure he would be tased if he did not comply, prompting Cure to move to the back of the vehicle. When Aldridge instructed Cure to place his hands behind his back, Cure refused and questioned why he was being arrested instead of receiving a speeding ticket. When Cure raised one of his arms upwards, Aldridge tased him.[2][4][7]

While being tased, Cure turned and faced Aldridge and began walking towards him while swinging at him and grabbing the taser wire. The two men then engaged in a physical struggle for about 20 seconds, during which Cure grabbed Aldridge's face and throat. Aldridge struck Cure multiple times with his baton. As the struggle continued, Aldridge drew his gun and fired a fatal shot at Cure, causing him to fall to the ground. Paramedics arrived to render aid to Cure but he later died.[2][4][7]

Response

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On October 18, the Camden County sheriff's office released body-worn and dash camera videos of the moments leading up to Cure's death.[4][8][9]

Relatives of Cure suspect he resisted arrest because of psychological trauma from spending 16 years imprisoned in Florida for a crime he did not commit. Cure's brother, Michael Cure, said, "I believe there were possibly some issues going on, some mental issues with my brother. I know him quite well. The officer just triggered him, undoubtedly triggered him. It was excitement met with excitement."[10]

On February 27, 2024, Cure's family filed a $16 million federal lawsuit against the sheriff's office and the deputy involved in Cure's death, alleging "excessive and deadly force" against Cure.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gabbatt, Adam (October 17, 2023). "US man wrongfully imprisoned for 16 years shot and killed by police". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Georgia deputy shoots, kills Black man who spent 16 years in prison on wrongful conviction". Associated Press. October 17, 2023. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Inmate Release Information Detail – Inmate 116878". Florida Department of Corrections. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Newly released video shows moments before a recently exonerated man was fatally shot by a deputy during a traffic stop". CNN. October 19, 2023. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Olmeda, Rafael (December 10, 2020). "Freed in April, Broward robbery convict now declared innocent". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  6. ^ Drenon, Brandon (October 17, 2023). "Exonerated man shot and killed in traffic stop in Georgia". BBC News. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Camden County". Georgia Bureau of Investigation. October 16, 2023. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  8. ^ Bynum, Russ (October 19, 2023). "Georgia sheriff releases video showing a violent struggle before deputy shoots exonerated man". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Walters, Makaelah (October 20, 2023). "Footage released shows killing of exoneree Leonard Cure by Georgia deputy". al.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  10. ^ "US man killed by police 'triggered' after wrongful imprisonment, family say". The Guardian. October 19, 2023. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  11. ^ Almasy, Steve; Riess, Rebekah (February 27, 2024). "Family of man wrongfully convicted in robbery and later killed in Georgia traffic stop files $16 million federal lawsuit". CNN. Retrieved February 28, 2024.

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