A Black man who was exonerated after 16 years of wrongful imprisonment was shot and killed by a Georgia deputy during a traffic stop.
On Monday (October 16), 53-year-old Leonard Allan Cure was fatally shot by a Camden County deputy, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said in a statement per People.
After being pulled over, Cure got out of his car and was compliant until he was told he was being arrested, according to the GBI.
“After not complying with the deputy's requests, the deputy tased Cure,” the bureau said. “Cure assaulted the deputy. The deputy used the Taser for a second time and an ASP baton; however, Cure still did not comply. The deputy pulled out his gun and shot Cure.”
The Innocence Project of Florida said Monday it was “devastated” by news of Cure’s death. The organization noted that Cure was on his way home after visiting his mom in Florida.
Cure was initially convicted in 2003 of an armed robbery in Florida that he didn't commit. He was sentenced to life in prison but was released in April 2020 following the modification of his sentence.
In the following months, Cure was exonerated after an ATM receipt proved that he was "miles away from the crime scene at the time of the robbery.”
“Based on these findings, the State of Florida recognized that Lenny was actually innocent and moved for his release and exoneration,” The Innocence Project of Florida said. “Most meaningful was that the State of Florida apologized to him for wrongfully taking his liberty.”
According to the Innocence Project, Cure had reconnected with his family and was currently living outside of Atlanta. He worked a job and hoped to get into the music business.
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