Nationwide — The deputy who shot and killed Leonard Cure, a 53-year-old African American man wrongfully imprisoned for 16 years, will not face charges, prosecutors announced. Leonard was fatally shot by Camden County Deputy Buck Aldridge during a traffic stop in October 2023.
District Attorney Keith Higgins stated that Aldridge’s use of deadly force was justified based on the circumstances. “Use of deadly force at that point was objectively reasonable given that he was being overpowered at that time,” he said, according to CBS News.
As a result, Aldridge will not face criminal charges and remains employed with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office in an administrative role.
Leonard’s family and their attorneys, including Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, condemned the decision, saying it is “a devastating failure of justice, sending the message that law enforcement officers can take a life without consequence. Leonard Cure was a man who had already fought so hard to reclaim his life after a wrongful conviction, only to have it stolen from him again. His family will not stop fighting for accountability, and neither will we,” they said in a statement.
The family has filed a $16 million lawsuit against Aldridge and former Sheriff Jim Proctor, alleging excessive force. The case is ongoing in U.S. District Court.
Leonard was exonerated in 2020 after serving 16 years in a Florida prison for a robbery he didn’t commit. After his release, he started rebuilding his life, reconnecting with his family, and preparing to buy his first home. His death has left his loved ones devastated. The Innocence Project, which helped secure his release, said his death was a tragic injustice.