Family members of Corey Jones wept with joy, hugged one another and raised their hands in praise on their way out of a Florida courtroom after the officer who shot the 31-year-old man was found guilty this morning.

Nouman Raja, 41, was convicted of manslaughter and attempted murder in the fatal shooting of the stranded black motorist, becoming the first officer in the state to be be held criminally accountable for an on-duty shooting in 30 years.

A Palm Beach County jury of four men and two woman deliberated for more than four hours spread over two days before convicting Raja of the October 2015 shooting of the 31-year-old Jones.

‘It was truth that convicted him. It was truth that brought him to justice. It was the truth that sent him to jail,’ the victim’s father, Clinton Jones Sr, told reporters outside. ‘It was truth that gave us justice for Corey.’

Jones’ brother, former NFL player Clinton C.J. Jones Jr, said the family knew his sibling was innocent from day one.

‘From his character alone, it’s just impossible for him to do that,’ he said during a news conference.

C.J. also expressed his gratitude to the jury and said the guilty verdict shows justice was served.

Raja, dressed in a grey suit and blue tie, looked distraught as the jury read the verdict. He was then was placed in handcuffs and escorted out of the courtroom. He now faces between 25 years and life in prison when he’s sentenced on April 26.

State Attorney Dave Aronberg said on Thursday he was pleased with the outcome and praised the jurors who ‘took time out of their busy lives’ to hear the case against Raja.

Raja’s attorneys said the shooting was justified because Jones pulled out a gun……more here