Georgia deputy kills exonerated man during traffic stop struggle

In Georgia, during a routine traffic stop in 2023, Leonard Cure, a 53-year-old Black man recently exonerated from a wrongful conviction, was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy after a violent struggle ensued. Authorities reported that Cure had been stopped while driving his pickup truck when the deputy demanded he exit the vehicle. When Cure resisted and attempted to fight back, the deputy deployed a stun gun, which was followed by a physical altercation between the two. Body camera footage revealed that Cure was overpowered and had a hand on the deputy's throat at the time he was shot at close range. District Attorney Keith Higgins, upon reviewing video evidence, determined that the use of deadly force by the deputy was justified under the circumstances. This situation struck deep with the local community and the family of Leonard Cure, who expressed outrage and grief over the death of a man they believed had suffered greatly due to previous injustices, including his wrongful imprisonment for armed robbery. The exoneration of Cure in 2020 after 16 years in prison for a crime he did not commit had brought hope to his family, making his death particularly devastating to them. Cure’s family and their legal representatives have alleged that the deputy, Staff Sgt. Buck Aldridge, had a history of using excessive force before being hired by the Camden County sheriff. They filed a federal lawsuit against the deputy and the former sheriff, seeking accountability for what they describe as a tragic miscarriage of justice. Attorneys for the family characterized the district attorney’s decision not to charge the deputy as a failure of the justice system that permits law enforcement officers to take lives without repercussions, emphasizing the psychological toll that long-term wrongful incarceration had on Cure. In the wake of Cure’s death, local and national organizations advocating for criminal justice reform have joined voices with Cure's family, stressing that there needs to be a more transparent and accountable system in place to investigate police conduct. This incident has sparked conversations about police training, the use of force, and the treatment of individuals with past trauma, especially those who have been wrongfully imprisoned. The community continues to demand justice for Leonard Cure and accountability for those in law enforcement entrusted to protect citizens rather than harm them.