- Dec 27, 2016
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On July 15, 2017, Justine Ruszczyk, also known as Justine Damond, a 40-year-old Australian-American woman, was shot and killed by Mohamed Noor, a Somali-American Minneapolis Police Department officer, after she had called 911 to report the possible assault of a woman in an alley behind her house.
Mohamed Mohamed Noor (born October 10 1985), was identified as the officer who shot Damond. His partner, Officer Matthew Harrity (then 25 years old), was the driver of their squad car. At the time of the shooting, Noor had been with the Minneapolis PD for 21 months, Harrity had been on the force for one year.
Noor had been lauded in the past by the Mayor and the local Somali community as one of the first Somali-American police officers in the area.
In two years as a police officer, Noor had three formal complaints against him, two of which, as of September 2017, are pending resolution. In a separate case from May 2017, he is being sued for allegedly assaulting a woman.
Following the deadly shooting, the Star Tribune reported Noor's police training had been "fast tracked"; some suburban police departments see the cadet programs as a way to add diversity to their police forces. Noor's police training had been part of the cadet program for the Minneapolis Police Department, an accelerated seven-month program aimed at candidates who already have a college degree and wish to enter law enforcement. Former police chief Janeé Harteau stood by Noor's training:
We have a very robust training and hiring process ... This officer completed that training very well, just like every officer. He was very suited to be on the street ... I believe the actions in question go against who we are as a department, how we train, and the expectations we are as a department. These were the actions of one individual.
MPD and Council Member Elizabeth Glidden denied news reports of there being a 'fast-track' MPD training program.
In September 2018, it was revealed that in 2015 two psychiatrists and other training officers had raised questions about Noor's fitness for police duty.
Australian Prime Minister said the Australian government wanted answers:
"This is a shocking killing. It's inexplicable. How can a woman out in the street in her pyjamas seeking assistance from the police be shot like that? We are demanding answers on behalf of her family. It's truly a tragic killing there in Minneapolis. Something clearly went tragically wrong. It seems inexplicable. It's a tragic loss."
An application for a search warrant to search the alley where the shooting occurred, referring to the shooting incident, stated: "Upon police arrival, a female 'slaps' the back of the patrol squad. After that, it is unknown to BCA agents what exactly happened, but the female became deceased in the alley." Among items collected were fingerprints from the rear cargo door window of the squad car.
Hours after the shooting, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators controversially obtained a second search warrant and carried out a search of Damond's home for evidence, including 'bodily fluids, controlled substances, and writings'. They did not take anything from the property.
Noor has so far refused to speak with investigators and has retained a private attorney.
In February, 2018, a grand jury was convened to investigate Damond's death. On February 15, 2018, Harrity appeared before the jury.
On March 20, 2018, a warrant was issued for third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges and Noor turned himself in to police.
Noor's defense appears to be that he believed they were being ambushed.
Mohamed Mohamed Noor (born October 10 1985), was identified as the officer who shot Damond. His partner, Officer Matthew Harrity (then 25 years old), was the driver of their squad car. At the time of the shooting, Noor had been with the Minneapolis PD for 21 months, Harrity had been on the force for one year.
Noor had been lauded in the past by the Mayor and the local Somali community as one of the first Somali-American police officers in the area.
In two years as a police officer, Noor had three formal complaints against him, two of which, as of September 2017, are pending resolution. In a separate case from May 2017, he is being sued for allegedly assaulting a woman.
Following the deadly shooting, the Star Tribune reported Noor's police training had been "fast tracked"; some suburban police departments see the cadet programs as a way to add diversity to their police forces. Noor's police training had been part of the cadet program for the Minneapolis Police Department, an accelerated seven-month program aimed at candidates who already have a college degree and wish to enter law enforcement. Former police chief Janeé Harteau stood by Noor's training:
We have a very robust training and hiring process ... This officer completed that training very well, just like every officer. He was very suited to be on the street ... I believe the actions in question go against who we are as a department, how we train, and the expectations we are as a department. These were the actions of one individual.
MPD and Council Member Elizabeth Glidden denied news reports of there being a 'fast-track' MPD training program.
In September 2018, it was revealed that in 2015 two psychiatrists and other training officers had raised questions about Noor's fitness for police duty.
Australian Prime Minister said the Australian government wanted answers:
"This is a shocking killing. It's inexplicable. How can a woman out in the street in her pyjamas seeking assistance from the police be shot like that? We are demanding answers on behalf of her family. It's truly a tragic killing there in Minneapolis. Something clearly went tragically wrong. It seems inexplicable. It's a tragic loss."
An application for a search warrant to search the alley where the shooting occurred, referring to the shooting incident, stated: "Upon police arrival, a female 'slaps' the back of the patrol squad. After that, it is unknown to BCA agents what exactly happened, but the female became deceased in the alley." Among items collected were fingerprints from the rear cargo door window of the squad car.
Hours after the shooting, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators controversially obtained a second search warrant and carried out a search of Damond's home for evidence, including 'bodily fluids, controlled substances, and writings'. They did not take anything from the property.
Noor has so far refused to speak with investigators and has retained a private attorney.
In February, 2018, a grand jury was convened to investigate Damond's death. On February 15, 2018, Harrity appeared before the jury.
On March 20, 2018, a warrant was issued for third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges and Noor turned himself in to police.
Noor's defense appears to be that he believed they were being ambushed.
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