Florida Man Exonerated After 16 Years in Prison Shot and Killed by Deputy During Traffic Stop in Georgia
In a tragic turn of events, Leonard Allan Cure, a Florida man who was exonerated and released from prison last year after serving more than 16 years for a crime he did not commit, was shot and killed by a deputy during a traffic stop in Georgia.
According to a news release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, the incident took place on Monday at approximately 7:30 a.m. when a Camden County deputy made a traffic stop on Interstate 95 in Camden County, Georgia. The GBI did not provide any information regarding the reason for pulling over Cure or what led up to the traffic stop.
The GBI stated that the driver, who was later identified as Leonard Allan Cure, complied with the deputy’s commands initially but refused to comply with the officer’s request for him to be arrested. After Cure allegedly assaulted the deputy, the officer used a taser and an ASP baton in an attempt to gain compliance. However, when Cure still did not comply, the deputy resorted to using his firearm, shooting Cure. Despite receiving medical treatment from EMTs, Cure later died from his injuries.
Cure’s exoneration and release from prison in April 2020 came after the Broward State Attorney’s Office launched a conviction review unit. The Innocence Project of Florida, which represented Cure, tweeted in 2020 that he had been fully exonerated by the review unit, citing a complete review of the evidence that raised reasonable doubt about his guilt.
The Florida Innocence Project, which had worked on Cure’s case, found evidence, including an ATM receipt, showing that Cure was miles away from the scene of the crime at the time of the robbery. The state of Florida officially apologized to Cure and provided compensation for his wrongful conviction.
Cure’s tragic death has garnered attention and raised concerns about the use of force by law enforcement officers. The GBI has stated that it will conduct an independent investigation into the incident and will share its findings with the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
In the meantime, Cure’s family and supporters are mourning the loss of a man who had finally regained his freedom after years of wrongful imprisonment. The Georgia Innocence Project, which had worked with Cure on raising awareness about wrongful convictions, expressed their sadness over his untimely death, stating that he deserved to live his life in freedom after enduring so much.
As the investigation continues, advocates for criminal justice reform and police accountability hope that Cure’s tragic death will bring about meaningful change in the system to prevent similar incidents in the future.