Black Man Wrongfully Convicted in Florida Fatally Shot by Georgia Sheriff’s Deputy during Traffic Stop
KINGSLAND, Ga. — Leonard Allen Cure, a Black man who spent over 16 years wrongfully imprisoned in Florida, was tragically shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy during a routine traffic stop in Georgia. The incident occurred on Monday and is currently under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Cure, 53, had been represented by the Innocence Project of Florida in his fight for exoneration. Seth Miller, the executive director of the organization, expressed his devastation upon hearing the news of Cure’s death from the family.
“It is unimaginable to know that your son is innocent, witness him being wrongfully imprisoned, experience his release, and then receive the devastating news that he has been shot dead,” Miller stated.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Cure was pulled over by a Camden County deputy while driving on Interstate 95 near the Georgia-Florida border. Initially cooperative, Cure turned violent after being informed of his arrest. The deputy attempted to subdue Cure using a stun gun and a baton, but when Cure continued to resist, the deputy resorted to using his firearm, resulting in Cure’s death.
The motives behind the traffic stop have not been revealed by the agency.
In Georgia, it is customary for law enforcement agencies to involve the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in officer-involved shootings. The findings of the investigation will be submitted to the district attorney for the coastal Brunswick Judicial Circuit.
Miller, although unable to comment specifically on Cure’s case, highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by wrongfully convicted individuals even after their release.
“Even when they are free, they are burdened with the fear of being wrongly convicted and imprisoned again,” Miller explained.
Cure’s wrongful conviction stemmed from the 2003 armed robbery of a drug store in Dania Beach, Florida. Despite alibis and the lack of physical evidence or credible witness testimony placing Cure at the scene, he was sentenced to life in prison due to previous convictions for robbery and other crimes.
In 2020, the Broward State Attorney’s Office Conviction Review Unit discovered significant flaws in Cure’s case, leading to his release later that year. In December 2020, Cure’s conviction and sentence were officially vacated.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis granted Cure $817,000 in compensation for his wrongful conviction and imprisonment, along with educational benefits, in June. Cure had received the funds in August.
Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor remembered Cure as a smart, funny, and kind individual who actively contributed to ensuring justice was served. Cure regularly checked in with Assistant State Attorney Arielle Demby Berger, head of the Conviction Review Unit, giving her encouragement and support in their pursuit for justice.
The circumstances surrounding Leonard Allen Cure’s death have raised concerns about the use of force by law enforcement officers. As the investigation continues, many are demanding transparency and accountability in addressing this tragic incident.