bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Reuters

A former Minneapolis police officer on Tuesday was found guilty of murder for fatally shooting an Australian woman from his patrol car while responding to her 2017 report of a possible sex assault near her home.
Mohamed Noor, 33, was convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for killing 40-year-old Justine Ruszczyk Damond outside her home near Minneapolis. The incident drew international criticism, including from Australia’s prime minister, who called the incident “shocking.”
He was acquitted of second-degree intentional murder.
Noor sat silently through the reading of the verdict with his hands cupped, breathing heavily. The packed courtroom remained silent.
‘My daughter has a bullet in her brain’: three children shot as US police fire at robbery suspect’s pickup truck in Ohio
Noor was handcuffed and taken into custody after the jury’s decision.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told a news conference he expected Noor to face 12-1/2 years in prison for the murder charge and four years for the manslaughter charge when he is sentenced on June 7.
“This was a tragic shooting that did not have to happen and should not have happened,” Freeman said. “It does not give us pleasure to call out police wrongdoing.”
Freeman said it marks the first time a police officer in Minnesota was convicted of murder.
A wave of killings of black men and teens by US police prompted street protests but in this case Damond was white and Noor is a black Somali immigrant.

Noor and his partner drove to Damond’s home the night of July 15, 2017, to respond to her report of a possible sexual assault outside her house. When Damond approached the patrol car, Noor fired a shot across his partner through the passenger-side window to kill her.
Noor testified in court that he shot Damond in an act of self-defence after he and his partner Matthew Harrity, who was driving, heard a loud noise.
The shooting led to the resignation of Minneapolis’ police chief and the creation of stricter police body camera policies, after Noor and his partner failed to turn on their body cameras and provide video evidence to investigators.

Australian woman shot by junior cop ‘didn't have to die’: Minneapolis police chief
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo apologised to Damond’s friends and family in a statement released after the verdict.
“This was indeed a sad and tragic incident that has affected family, friends, neighbours, the City of Minneapolis and people around the world, most significantly in her home country of Australia,” Arradondo said.
Damond was engaged to be married that summer and owned a life-coaching company, according to her personal website.
“That night there was a tragic lapse of care and complete disregard for the sanctity of life,” her fiancé Don Damond said after the verdict was read.
Damond’s father John Ruszczyk said the decision reflected the community’s commitment to the rule of the law, sanctity of life and the obligation of the police to serve and protect.
The verdict “strengthens those pillars,” he said.


Police arrest apparent leader of cultlike ‘Zizian’ group linked to multiple US killings

Trump names head of personal security detail to lead Secret Service

US teen kills female student then shoots himself at Nashville high school

10 wounded in shooting outside New York City nightclub, suspects flee

Gun violence in the US

Former Minnesota policeman convicted in fatal shooting of Australian woman

Jenelle Masterson and Sarah Kuhnen, both neighbours of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, react after the verdict of Mohamed Noor former Minnesota policeman. Photo: Reuters

This courtroom sketch depicts former Minneapolis police Officer Mohamed Noor listening to the verdict, Tuesday, April 30, 2019, in Minneapolis, during his trial in the fatal shooting of unarmed Justine Ruszczyk Damond, in July 2017, after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault behind her home. Noor was convicted of third-degree murder and also found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Damond, a 40-year-old dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia. (Cedric Hohnstadt via AP)

Mohamed Noor, former Minnesota policeman on trial for fatally shooting an Australian woman, walks into the courthouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., April 30, 2019. REUTERS/Craig Lassig

News

World

United States & Canada

Asia

Australasia

Mohamed Noor found guilty of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for killing Justine Ruszczyk Damond outside her Minneapolis home


United States

Australia