On Monday, a tragic incident unfolded during a traffic stop on Interstate 95 just north of Jacksonville. This event resulted in the unfortunate loss of Leonard Allan Cure, a 53-year-old man from Georgia.
Reports indicate that Cure was pulled over after his truck was spotted speeding at over 100mph. Unfortunately, the situation quickly escalated when Cure refused to follow the officer’s instructions.
When asked to step out of his vehicle, Cure defiantly responded, “I ain’t doin’ sh*t.”
Recently released footage from body cameras and the vehicle’s recording sheds light on the distressing altercation. After refusing to comply with orders, Cure was instructed to place both hands on the back of his truck.
Instead, he raised one hand and engaged in a heated argument with the officer regarding the recorded speed. This defiance prompted the officer to use a taser.
Although stunned, Cure continued to resist. The footage captures Cure lunging at the sheriff’s deputy, engaging in a fierce struggle. Cure forcefully placed one hand behind the officer’s back while the other covered the officer’s mouth and chin.
During the struggle, Cure taunted with repeated words, “Yeah btch, yeah btch,”
The climax of the struggle saw the sheriff’s deputy ultimately gaining control and, in the intensity of the altercation, firing a single shot. Unfortunately, the bullet struck Cure just below the armpit.
Shortly thereafter, the officer urgently broadcasted, “Shots fired! Shots fired! Suspect down!” over the radio. Additional footage revealed the emotional aftermath, with the deputy visibly shaken as first responders attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to revive Cure.
It was noted by The Daily Mail that Cure had a criminal history, having been convicted of armed robbery in 2003. He received a life sentence but was exonerated in 2020 after the Broward State Attorney’s Office’s Conviction Review Unit, supported by a panel of five lawyers, determined his innocence.
Following his exoneration, Cure embarked on a path of redemption, sharing uplifting stories with students across the nation.
