As TFTP reported in February, Corey Marioneaux Jr., 24, is a father of two, church-going community member with no criminal record who defended his family from armed intruders. Because the intruders were cops, however, Marioneaux was charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. He was completely innocent.
Thankfully, however, justice has prevailed and the State Attorney’s Office announced its decision not to criminally prosecute Marioneaux as he acted in self-defense and they could not prove that he knew the intruders were cops.
“State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announces that after diligent investigation and review no criminal prosecution will be commenced against Corey Marioneaux Jr. for a shooting incident that occurred during the lawful execution of a search warrant at his residence on February 3rd, 2022,” the release stated.
“We are pleased that prosecutors have opted to drop all charges against Corey Marioneaux, Jr. today,” Marioneaux’s attorneys said in a statement. “If officers with the Pensacola Police Dept. had simply taken a moment to fully evaluate the situation, he wouldn’t have been arrested in the first place. Mr. Marioneaux is completely innocent and deserves to have his record cleared and good name restored.”
Luckily, during the early morning raid in which police used a battering ram to break through Marioneaux’s front door and storm into his living room, no one was killed. Had this father of two actually killed one of the intruders, however, he would have been justified in doing so as Marioneaux had his two children—ages 1 and 3—asleep in his room.
As we reported, police claimed they “knocked” for ten seconds at his front door but most people are still asleep at this hour, so it is quite easy not to hear them.
Though the knocking didn’t wake him, when his door was smashed in with a ram, Marioneaux immediately jumped up, grabbed his pistol and defended his family. He would fire one shot at the armed intruders breaking into his home and luckily, his shot was deflected by one of the officer’s shields.
“Careful review of the case has determined that there is insufficient proof to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Marioneaux knew that he was firing at a police officer. Knowledge is an essential element of the offense,” the State Attorney’s Office release stated.
Police fired back and luckily they missed as well. As soon as Marioneaux realized the intruders were cops, he put the pistol down, put his hands up, surrendered, and immediately apologized, profusely. No one was hurt and the police report proved the statement above.
“While being taken into custody, Marioneaux made spontaneous statements in the presence of [the detective] that he was sorry,” the police report stated. “Marioneaux also made spontaneous statements in front of [the sergeant] that he was sorry for shooting at officers.”
As it was clearly a mistake to fire on the officers and due to the fact that he was not the subject of the warrant, Marioneaux should have been released immediately. Yet he wasn’t. Instead, he was booked for 3 counts of Attempted Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer.
During the raid, Marioneaux’s 1-year-old son was injured and an internal investigation is underway.
While arresting Marioneaux for the non-crime of defending his children, police then took those children. While the children were in police custody, they called Moiya Dixon, who shares custody of the children with Marioneaux, to come get the kids. Before Dixon arrived, however an officer dropped the 1-year-old on his face, causing severe trauma, according to the family.
“I get out my car like, ‘Where’s my baby? Where’s my baby?’” Dixon said. “And I get my baby and I see his face—and it’s almost unrecognizable compared to how he looked when I left him last.”
After the baby was dropped, EMS was called out to the scene but, in what appears to be a cover up, police told EMS to leave.
In the process, the police take the kids and drop the 1 y/o causing severe trauma to the baby’s head. They tried to cover it up. Didn’t tell the dad that they dropped his kid. Prevented EMS from taking the kid to the hospital.
— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) February 15, 2022
According to police, the toddler was leaning up against the door of the cruiser when an officer opened it, causing the child to fall out. After Dixon got her children back from the police, she brought the 1-year-old to the hospital herself where he was treated for his injuries.
“We are now focused on getting to the bottom of exactly how Mr. Marioneaux’s one-year-old baby boy was dropped on his head and seriously injured during this botched raid, Marioneaux’s attorney’s said after the decision to drop the charges was made.
“Our hope is that the Pensacola Police Dept. will quickly provide accurate information regarding how and why this occurred. We will not stop until this information has been made public and those responsible for this horrific series of events are held accountable.”
This article was originally featured at The Free Thought Project and is republished with permission.
