Video Reveals Confrontation Leading to Fatal Shooting of Previously Exonerated Man by Georgia Deputy

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A law enforcement officer in Georgia fatally shot Leonard Cure, a 53-year-old Black man, at close range during a traffic stop. The incident, captured on video, shows Cure, who had spent 16 years in prison in Florida for a crime he did not commit, grappling with the deputy and forcing his head backward. The footage was made public by Camden County Sheriff Jim Proctor on Wednesday.

Before the video’s release, the family of Leonard Cure had the opportunity to review both the dash and body camera recordings. They suspect that Cure’s resistance to arrest was a result of the psychological trauma he endured during his wrongful imprisonment.

“Given my understanding of my brother’s mental state, the officer undoubtedly set off a chain reaction,” said Michael Cure, Leonard’s brother. “The situation escalated because both parties were agitated.”

The incident occurred two days after a white deputy pulled over Cure’s pickup truck on Interstate 95, a few miles north of the Georgia-Florida border, on suspicion of reckless driving. Cure had been visiting his mother in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and was en route to his recently purchased home in metro Atlanta.

In the video, the deputy is heard instructing Cure to exit his vehicle and place his hands on the back of the truck. Initially defiant, Cure eventually complies after the deputy threatens to deploy a stun gun. Cure questions the reason for the stop, to which the deputy responds that he had been driving at 100 miles per hour.

The situation intensifies when Cure disregards orders to place his hands behind his back. The deputy then uses his stun gun, prompting Cure to react by spinning and flailing his arms. A struggle ensues between the two men alongside the highway, during which Cure grabs the deputy by the neck and forces his head back. Despite being struck with a baton, Cure maintains his hold. A gunshot is heard, and Cure falls to the ground.

“Shots fired, suspect down! Send help,” the deputy radios in.

As is standard procedure in Georgia for law enforcement-involved shootings, the deputy has been placed on administrative leave pending a review by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The bureau’s findings will be sent to Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Keith Higgins for further evaluation.

The district attorney met with Cure’s family after the video was released but has not yet made a final determination pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Research indicates that Black Americans are disproportionately at risk of fatal police encounters and wrongful convictions. Leonard Cure experienced both. His family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, contends that the use of lethal force was unwarranted.

“He should still be alive,” said Michael Cure. “Despite being tased twice and struck with a baton, shooting him was unnecessary.”

Leonard Cure had been wrongfully convicted in 2004 and was released three years ago after a review found that he was innocent. His family stated that he lived in perpetual fear of being wrongfully arrested and incarcerated again.

Prior to the release of the video, Cure’s family convened a press conference outside the Camden County courthouse. Mary Cure, Leonard’s mother, expressed her belief that her son should not have been killed, regardless of the circumstances.

During Cure’s wrongful imprisonment, the Innocence Project of Florida had successfully petitioned for a case review that ultimately led to his release. Seth Miller, executive director of the Innocence Project of Florida, noted that Cure had been failed by the system twice, adding that for many of his clients, the fear of a wrongful arrest remains ever-present.

“Given his history, it’s likely that this fear crossed his mind during the traffic stop,” Miller stated.

The report was contributed to by Big Big News reporter Kate Brumback in Atlanta.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Fatal shooting of Leonard Cure

More about Fatal shooting of Leonard Cure

• Camden County Sheriff’s Office Official Statement
• Georgia Bureau of Investigation Overview
• Innocence Project of Florida
• National Statistics on Police Use of Force
• Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office
• Studies on Racial Disparities in Policing
• Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump’s Official Website
• Article on Psychological Trauma from Wrongful Imprisonment
• Details on Leonard Cure’s Previous Case