A cloud of remorse hovers over the State of Florida as they mourn the loss of Leonard Cure, a man who spent 16 years wrongfully incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit, only to be fatally shot by a deputy sheriff during a traffic stop in close proximity to the Georgia state line.
“Lenny’s life mattered,” commented the Innocence Project of Florida, expressing their deep regret over the unfortunate incident. Tragically, Cure’s quest for a fresh start after his wrongful conviction in 2003, came to a harrowing end on the fringes of Interstate 95 in Southern Georgia.
Unveiling recorded footage from a body-worn and dash camera, the Camden County Sheriff’s office in Georgia shed light on the tense moments leading up to Cure’s tragic end. As illustrated in the dashcam video, the deputy pursued Cure when his vehicle raced past. The pursuit trailed on for approximately a minute and 20 seconds.
Throughout the swift chase, the deputy admonishes Cure for reckless driving and exceeding the speed limit. The dialogue exchanges, recorded on video, escalates the tension between the two. A physical altercation begins, culminating in the deputy discharging his firearm, the gunshot strangely inaudible in the recorded footage.
Despite attempts to apply first aid, Cure eventually succumbed to his injuries as confirmed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The sheriff’s office claimed the released videos were aimed at “being transparent regarding the actions that occurred” and to showcase the “confrontation and use of force.”
Reverting to his family after his release in April 2020, Cure began a humble existence in an Atlanta suburb, relying on his compensation after the wrongful conviction to purchase his first home.
Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor commended Cure as “a smart, funny and kind person,” who was instrumental in training his staff to serve justice effectively and fairly.
However, Cure’s family insists there is more evidence. They allege the existence of another video captured through Facebook Live, though this footage has since vanished from the platform.
In 2019, Cure sought the aid of the Broward State Attorney’s Office for a review of his conviction after his post-conviction relief appeals were repeatedly denied. This led to the unearthing of an ATM receipt that proved his location far from the scene of the robbery.
Providing an extra blow to the prosecution’s initial case, Florida Innocence Project confirmed that the photo array depicting the possible suspect contained repetitive images of Cure, making it unreliable.
The armed robbery occurred in Dania Beach, on November 10, 2003 at a Walgreens store, with the suspect escaping with $1,700. Cure was later sentenced to life in prison for armed robbery with a firearm and assault with a firearm. Nonetheless, by April 2020, his sentence was modified to 16 years and released on time served.
August brought a compensation of $817,000 for Cure’s conviction and imprisonment. Today, his story flows as a chilling reminder of justice’s dual nature; its reaffirming ability to liberate – and its oppressive role when misjudged.
